How to Make Aloha Leadership Work for You

The Hawaiian word "ohana" means "family", and if there's one thing that Hawaiians do best, it's treating everyone like family. At a recent hula gathering where we knew no-one before we walked in the door, my two sons were quickly surrounded by "aunties" and "uncles" who embraced them as though they were their own. Years ago, this familiar tendency put me off, but when I realized the depth of sincerity that accompanies these family ties I came to recognize that "ohana" is as strong as any blood-line.

Treating your employees like family doesn't mean that you're weak or that performance expectations are any lower. If anything, treating someone like family means you break down communication barriers quickly and get things done more efficiently because a high level of trust exists. Here's how to make "ohana" a part of your business model.

1. Establish communication guidelines within your working group. Respect and reason are non-negotiable, and so is listening!

2. Cultural differences don't mean division. Cultural differences do need to be recognized and honored for their unique contributions. Treating everyone the same lessens each individual's connection to the greater mission, so don't do it!

3. As Kevin Roberts F.A.C.H.E. and President/CEO of Castle Medical Center in Kailua says, "you don't have to conquer others to be successful." Look to build trust within your organization and outside it. The community can be your best sales-force if "aloha" is part of your guiding principles.

See a preview of the Aloha Leadership keynote at http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=105851563&TemplateId=156&lnkkey=Link2&utm_source=ORM&utm_medium=notification&utm_term=viewvideo&utm_campaign=Group41EmailVideo

Contact Mike to arrange for an Aloha Leadership presentation for your group at (720) 851.5208 or info@mikefaber.com

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!