What You Must Know About Aloha Leadership

The Hawaiian language is much deeper than 13 letters and a series of words (all seemingly with a vowel-to-consonant ratio of 4:1!) As I've explored the meaning of Aloha Leadership, it's become apparent to this haole (Mainlander) that to understand Hawaiian culture one has to put aside some preconceptions.

1. One size fits all. Hawaiians come in many shapes and sizes, and the "culture" of the islands is actually a revered mix of many nationalities and traditions. Trying to fit people into pre-conceived notions of who we think they ought to be is fraught with danger.

2. Strong communities need a just one leader to work. Like the proverbial chain, our society is as strong as the weakest link. Regardless of our backgrounds, we depend on each other to live and thrive. If one person lets the water out of the fish pond and all the koi die, we all suffer.

3. History is only a subject in school. The people who come before us, whether in our family, our community or our business, have lessons to teach us if we're willing to listen. Listening is the second part of the critical equation however; we first have to ask questions to plumb the depth of that wisdom.

When you think you understand another person's culture, ask yourself this. "What do I assume about this person and their background?" Our assumptions are nearly always based on what we think we know, filtered through our own life experience. Like the word "aloha", the people surrounding you have much more to share than meets the eye.

See the Aloha Leadership keynote at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4IAFSY4zY

Hire Mike Faber for your next meeting, off-site or convention by calling 720.851.5208 (US/Intl)

Aloha Leadership - How A Diverse Culture Helps You Lead

I spent time on the phone recently with John Aeto, the General Manager at VRE in Hawai'i. John's input on the influence of Aloha Spirit in leadership has been formed by a lifetime on the Islands, and by his extensive experience in broadcasting, sales and marketing. Here is some of John's insight:

"Aloha Spirit means love, trust and the breath of life. It means being able to put yourself in a position where (as a leader) you see things from a 360 degree perspective."

John also talked about the principle of "Kina'ole". Briefly stated, this foundational principle of Aloha Leadership is based on a state of gratefulness and grace. For example, diverse opinions in the workplace can be source of conflict and dis-trust. As a leader, you can choose to be grateful for those differences and learn to leverage opposing viewpoints and perspective. There's more on Kina'ole in Georgia Patrick's wonderful post at "Customers Count" at http://service.ducttapemarketing.com/2008/04/the-power-of-ki.html

If you know of a fabulous leader in the business or volunteer community of the Hawaiian Islands, I'd love to interview them for my upcoming book "Aloha Leadership". Just pass along their contact information to me at mike@mikefaber.com, and I'll take it from there. The interview process lasts just 15-20 minutes, and each contributor receives a copy of the book when it is complete.

Mahalo!

Breakthrough Thinking from Aloha Leadership

My new friend Rosa Say is a talented coach, speaker and author based in Hawai'i and she shared some of her thoughts on Aloha Spirit and leadership in a phone call recently. I found a few of her quotes compelling enough to want to share them here.

"Everyone has the Aloha Spirit, it's leadership's responsibility to demonstrate that 'Aloha' is valued in the workplace."

"Time and money are not your greatest resources. Energy is your greatest resource and that only comes from engaged people."

The word "aloha" is a "catch-all" word in Hawaiian, like "Ciao" in Italian or "Hey" in American English. "Aloha" means literally "Hello, Good-bye, love" so its use and value is universal when you're seeking to build and maintain professional and personal relationships.

Find more great ideas and resources from Rosa at http://www.managingwithaloha.com/ Remember, when you visit the islands, open your eyes and ears to take in a new perspective on leadership. Bring home more than just a tan!