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| Olive Trees in Gethsemane Garden, 1000 years old Living Symbols of Legacy, Resilience and Promise |
One cannot travel to Israel, the Holy Land, without undertaking a personal transformation, a sort of displacement... and also some formidable learning on mankind, organizations, and one-self.
I just came back from a week in Israel, visiting the historical and religious sites of Nazareth, Bethleem, Cana, Jordan River, Tiberias Lake, Sea of Salt ... and most importantly Jerusalem - the Holy City for all monotheist religions (Christian, Jewish and Muslim).
Paradoxically, the etimology of "Jerusalem" is rooted in Foundation, God and Peace. Clearly, it is a sacred foundation town, and also the land of God, i.e.
- The city of King David and King Solomon, who built the First Temple - for Jewish people.
- The city where Muhammad ascended to Heaven, where he speaks to God - for Muslim people.
- The city where Jesus Christ, Son of God, died and resurrected - for Christian people.
Etimology is more mysterious and intriguing on the meaning of "peace":
- The city has been destroyed twice, besieged 23 times, attacked 52 times and captured 44 times!
- Today the city seems quiet on the surface, but the country as a whole is visibly tensed underneath.
Besides a spiritual personal experience in Jerusalem, which is really intense for all visitors and pilgrims (however religious they may be), there are 3 very interesting and profound lessons to draw from the city with regard to corporate leadership and management:
1) Legacy is a fundamental cornerstone in the history and development of any organization.
Jerusalem has been founded about 5,000 years ago, proven by archeologic evidence, dating back to the Bronze Age. The city was later governed and developed through Egyptian, Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman periods... Under each stage, the city grew in prosperity, recognition, spirituality and tradition, despite the wars. The old city of Jerusalem is magnificient, and you really see, hear and feel the weight of history, the strength of legacy, and the power of tradition.
2) Resilience is the proof and condition of sustainability of any organization.
As I said earlier, the wars and conflicts seem permanent in Jerusalem, often of exceptional violence. The various Crusades that took place to capture and recapture the Holy City are well known episodes of massacres conducted there. Until today there has never been a long period of quietude in Jerusalem, whose people and leaders have always shown extraordinary resilience to survive, and to continue growing. Today the authorities of Jerusalem are still enduring a permanent struggle for peace, in the very sensitive climate that you all know. One place which shows the resilience of the Jewish people is the Yad Vashem memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.
3) Pledge (or Promise) is the source of inspiration for future growth, and for radical optimism.
With such formidable legacy, and their demonstrated resilience, the people of Jerusalem could simply "relax" and take it easy. No way... They maintain the Promise alive, they hope for a better future, they discuss it, they negotiate it, and they all live the pledge of tomorrow's world. All inhabitants (Christians, Jews and Muslims) share a dream of hope, a vision of the future, and therefore ensure long-term growth and progress of the city. The "promise" may be different according to their faith... but hope and optimism are present, and one can feel it deeply anchored in Jerusalem.
Those three essential pillars of Jerusalem - Legacy, Resilience, Promise - are definitely worth considering when leading or managing any organization.
These pillars are key success factors of sustainable growth and development, that can last for millenars !
