Heres the deal: someones gotta pay to keep the lights on. Studios have to run. Teachers have to get paid. This remains true, even as there is an imperative to care for the ecosystem— enough old timers to help the rookies, enough rookies to replace those who move. Numbers are great, but sustainability is better….
Do you find that you are encouraged to bring people into your organization? It’s a great thing to do, who doesn’t wanna share something great? When you apply your critical thinking skills, if it looks like you’re more important for clout or cash, somethings up. In DC, we have a few different teachers, each with…
Shame, guilt, or fear? How to spot controlling vs supportive environments. Look out for a femanx of excessive loyalty and suggestions to disregard critical thinking. More on youtube!
Being straightforward about what tools you use (and why!) is a great way to build trust. Making people do things just because you say so is not. Consent with clarity is really the name of the game. More on youtube!
Are you told not to talk about what goes on inside your organization? The secret recipe for Popeye’s chicken? Sure, keep that locked up. But clarity around who gets promoted and how shouldn’t be hidden or secret. Who’s not telling you the why? Why not? More on youtube!
Being a part of something is wonderful. Movements, clubs, communities. These organizations shouldn’t demand a loss of your personal identity or sense of sense of self. High pressure communities have a way of twisting these conversations because of the inherent philosophical paradox of self and not-self in Ashtanga philosophy. More on youtube!
Organizations that limit agency and critique internally are inevitably going to be fragile. Pragmatically, its not great to be around. More on youtube!
Whistleblowers are often shunned. Luckily for us, it’s actually a good sign of a toxic group. When the priority is protecting the group and not the members of the group, there’s a problem. And it’s an easy one to spot! Manipulation comes in all kinds of forms— intellectual, emotional, professional. Look for shunning and a…
Cult Warning Sign 4: Lack of Reason and Magical Thinking. Whole video on youtube!