What's In A Name?

It's an interesting but obscure verse in Genesis, Chapter 2 (verse 19).  God creates and then brings every animal and bird before Adam so that Adam can name them.  And then, in Genesis 2:20, Adam actually names the animals, birds and beasts.

So what's so important about naming the animals and birds?  As with everything in Genesis, the origins of the names have meaning.   Naming something is a mark of great power.  If you don't think so, ask your parents how you got your name - or remember the discussions about naming your children - or even pets!

Names have even more power when we attach titles to them.  Most of us like the name Peter, for example.  But think of the name Peter the Great.  Now you think of a great Russian ruler.  William is another nice name, to be sure.  But William the Conqueror?  He has significant meaning for the Brits.  In the Bible, we could use, for example, David or King David in the same context.

As leaders, we have to be careful how we use names.  Perhaps Susan is a good worker in our office.  But if we always refer to her as "Big Susan" because there is also a "Little Susan" in the office, imagine how badly she might feel if she thinks her defining characteristic is her size.  "Old Tom" and "Young Tom" is another another example, as is "Black Eric" and "White Eric", defining people by age or race.

Our job as leaders is to be role models regarding how we name other people - whether we like them or not!  Here is a quick example:

Tina is a great salesperson.  She has consistently surpassed her quota each month and has won numerous awards.  Her colleagues like her and her managers have considered making her a team leader due to her success and ability to motivate others.  Lately however, her performance has been slipping due to unknown reasons and her colleagues have even noticed tobacco on her breath when she comes to work in the morning and after lunch.  Nobody even knew she had smoked!

You are her manager.  As a leader, do you: a) start referring to her as "Tina the Smoker" and berate her on the sales floor? or 2) remain publicly silent and have a private discussion with her in your office to see what is happening and start to work out the problems? 

Of course, we would all say answer 2 is the ideal answer.  But how many of us fall prey to answer #1.  The mark of Adam, as it were, is to name properly and strive for answer #2, to be a discerning leader, one who names wisely in the spirit of Genesis.

To conclude, I would like to quote the famous poem by the Israeli writer Leah Goldberg, Each Man Has a Name.  I think it sums up this discussion.

Every man has a name... By Leah Goldberg

Everyman has a name that God gave him,
And his father and mother gave him.
Everyman has a name that his stature gave him,
And his fabric gave him.
Everyman has a name that the mountains and the sea gave him,
And his way of faith gave him.
Everyman has a name that his luck gave him,
And his path gave him.
Everyman has a name that his deeds gave him,
And his yearning gave him.
Everyman has a name that his hatred gave him,
And his love gave him.
Everyman has a name that his freedom gave him,
And his mission gave him.
Everyman has a name that the year gave him,
And his blindness gave him.
Everyman has a name that the day gave him,
And his way of smile gave him.
Everyman has a name that his life gave him,
And his death gave him...

Translated by Arweenbabe

Source:  http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=leisure.wj.Every_man_has_a_name

May your name be one marked by greatness and by one learned in the Lessons of Biblical Leadership.

Let me know what you think.

Jordan Parr
Dallas, TX
rabbiparr@gmail.com