A keynote for mission-driven leaders

Why Your People Are More Important Than Your Company

And What To Do About It.

Rabbi Arieh Friedner · COO, Daily Giving

Featured Talk

Why Your People Matter More

Arieh Friedner · Keynote

Tap to listen

The big idea

The 4 Ps

Peopleat the center
Purpose
why we do it
Programs
what we do
Process
how we do it

No meaningful impact happens alone.

"Vayachalom, vehineh sulam mutzav artzah, verosho magia hashamayma…"

"He dreamed, and behold, a ladder set on the ground, its top reaching the heavens, and angels of God going up and down on it."

— Bereishis 28:12

Your people are the ladder. They are what connects vision to reality — heaven to earth. The best way to chop down a tree is to sharpen the axe. Your people are your organization.

Four Levels of Focusing on Your People

Most leaders are somewhere on this ladder. Each rung is a deeper way of seeing the people you lead — and each comes with a mistake to avoid.

4

Supersede the Mission

(Ratzon)
Mistake

"Our mission is everything."

People-Focus

Our mission includes you — even outside of us. Your people should matter to you more than the mission, and not despite it.

3

Embody the Mission

(Machshava)
Mistake

"You're a replaceable soldier."

People-Focus

You're a co-author. No one has all the answers — not even founders. If you were chosen to be here, so were they.

2

Anchor the Mission

(Dibur)
Mistake

"It's just a job — deal with it."

People-Focus

Misalignment is a company issue. Your people are driven by care; when they drift, that's yours to solve.

1

Carry the Mission

(Ma'aseh)
Mistake

"You work for us."

People-Focus

We work for you. If something breaks, it's a system problem, not a people problem. (Flip the org chart — who's really accountable?)

9/10

C-level and HR leaders say their employees are happy.

5/10

Employees say they're not.

And if you asked your team to tell you everything that's making them unhappy — would you fully believe they're holding nothing back?

So — where do you land?

Is Your Organization Really Focusing on Its People?

12 honest questions. About 5 minutes. No email required to see your score.

Question 1 of 120%

Everyone on my team has a clear role, defined deliverables, and a simple way to report progress.