Managing with Aloha

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Start with two words: “with Aloha”

May 27, 2012

If you’re one of those “Let’s cut to the chase” kinds of people, the total philosophical view of Managing with Aloha can overwhelm you, I know. Whether as study guide for personal learning, or for workplace culture building, the basic construct we have of 19 values and 9 key concepts can give you at least 171 combinations in the simple value-mapping where you align one of each, and often, there’s nothing simple about the effort. Working on work takes work. As HO‘OHANA reminds us, it requires intention.

“Rosa, I feel ravished. In a good way, mostly, but yeah, ravished. Now what? Where do I begin?”
— email from a new reader who just finished my book

So where to start?

Start with those last two words of our philosophy’s name: “with Aloha.” When you do so, the philosophy becomes yours: By it’s very nature, ALOHA is all about you.

“with Aloha”

Decide what “with Aloha” means to you, and describe it in your own words: When you say (or write, or read) “with Aloha” what is it you bring with you, to whatever you might be doing?

Turn “with Aloha” into your kaona of choice, and your mana‘o of conviction. Once you do, you can apply your personal story of ALOHA (your kaona) to everything as your evolutionary guide. It becomes your stake in the sand (your mana‘o). You will grow from there, because you’ll be radiating from within: What is the Aloha Spirit? It’s you!

In my own story, the concept of “managing with Aloha” came together for me as a more accurate description of what I used to call my “sense of place management style.” “Managing with Aloha” was more accurate because I needed to weave in my calling as a manager, and not shy away from it, or dress it up by calling it anything else. Management had to become more noble in my own views about it, so I could hold my head up high as I did it, for there was no question for me that I’d be a manager in some shape or form for a very long time, perhaps my whole life through.

In Hawai‘i, ALOHA is a kind of twofer: If you grow up here, Sense of Place and ALOHA exist in a melting pot. So for me, the “with Aloha” part became about in the search for PONO I describe in my book: In my industry at the time, Hawai‘i’s hospitality industry, I was expected to own the “Aloha Spirit” and demonstrate it. So I had to feel I was achieving ALOHA on my own terms if PONO was ever to be in my reach. Once I began to study values-based management with Dr. George Kanahele and other kūpuna (elders and teachers), I realized that ALOHA wasn’t something I achieved, as much as it was something I came to be — myself.

“with Aloha”

Some people have told me that for them, managing with Aloha is about relationship building.
They’re right, it is.

Other people have told me that for them, managing with Aloha is about owning up to their personal responsibilities in the way they must define them.
They’re right, it is.

Some people have told me that for them, managing with Aloha is about positioning themselves within the values behavior that gives them the most confidence and self assurance.
They’re right, it is.

Other people have told me that for them, managing with Aloha is about understanding their own culture and heritage in a way the elders of their families didn’t really talk about.
They’re right, it is.

Some people have told me that for them, managing with Aloha is less about work, and more about life, and creating your own destiny instead of letting stuff “just happen” to you.
They’re right, it is.

It may be different for you. If you feel a certainty about your ALOHA, it’s right, because it’s right for you.

Accept whatever it is, and you’ll have started your managing with ALOHA journey in the best possible way.

I’m not saying that Managing with Aloha the Rosa Say way is right for everyone.
I am saying that Managing with Aloha your way will be right for you.

From Managing with Aloha (Chapter 1 preamble):

The arms of Aloha are inclusive, and they seek to serve.
Aloha is an attitude, one that is positive and healthy, for Aloha is the value of unconditional love and acceptance.
To be a great manager is to share the intent of Aloha.
You must give your employees an outpouring of your spirit, and you must receive theirs.
This is Aloha. This is the calling of great managers.

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· Key 1. The Aloha Spirit

Trackbacks

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    June 1, 2012 at 7:13 am

    […] Postscript: If you are new here, please be sure to read this posting on ALOHA for best context: What is the Aloha Spirit? It’s you!  This one will be a good follow-up: Start with two words: “with Aloha” […]

  2. All Conversations Are Not Created Equal says:
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    […] of the best things about good, filled-with-ALOHA conversations is that they make work easier. They certainly make it […]

  3. Managerial Batching: 1, 2, 5 and 7 says:
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    […] 1 for the Alaka‘i Manager is healthy, with-ALOHA culture-building in the workplace, and they are fully cognizant of the fact that real people are […]

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    November 4, 2012 at 9:09 am

    […] We have a tough time ahead of us, where we must work to come together as a more unified country. The task ahead is not solely the job of our president, though we certainly will draw our own energies from his leadership. It is undeniable that come together we must, and that starts with a willingness to understand and include those who differ with our own views. In our MWA ‘Language of We,’ it calls for the values of LŌKAHI (cooperation and unity), KĀKOU (inclusiveness and togetherness), MĀLAMA na ‘OHANA (stewardship of our communities and our country), and HO‘OHANOHANO (respect and dignity), conducting ourselves with honor and distinction — and always, with the unconditional acceptance of ALOHA. […]

  5. The First Time and the Insider’s Advantage says:
    November 25, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    […] Start with two words: “with Aloha” […]

  6. Going Forward into 2013, with Aloha says:
    December 31, 2012 at 11:03 am

    […] — conducting ourselves with distinction — can simply be defined as behaving well, so that ‘with Aloha’ gets more naturally, and genuinely connected to everything we say and do. I think of Ho‘ohanohano […]

  7. What if I’m not a manager? says:
    February 5, 2013 at 7:50 am

    […] A place to start: Start with two words: “with Aloha” […]

  8. Hana ‘eleau: Working in the Dark says:
    May 14, 2013 at 10:23 am

    […] to ‘go there’ and you define your own limits and boundaries professionally, because you know your ALOHA. Your Aloha Spirit makes those decisions better than anyone else can ever advise […]

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19 Values of Aloha: Index Pages

There are 19 Values of Aloha taught within the Managing with Aloha philosophy:

Ch.1 Aloha | Ch.2 Ho‘ohana | Ch.3 ‘Imi ola | Ch.4 Ho‘omau | Ch.5 Kūlia i ka nu‘u | Ch.6 Ho‘okipa | Ch.7 ‘Ohana | Ch.8 Lōkahi | Ch.9 Kākou | Ch.10 Kuleana | Ch.11 ‘Ike loa | Ch.12 Ha‘aha‘a | Ch.13 Ho‘ohanohano | Ch.14 Alaka‘i | Ch.15 Mālama | Ch.16 Mahalo | Ch.17 Nānā i ke kumu | Ch.18 Pono | Ch.19 Ka lā hiki ola | Full Listing

Resource Pages

New Here? Start with this introduction: Reading Pathways

Additional Resource Pages: 9 Key Concepts | 12 Aloha Virtues | A Manager’s Calling: 10 Beliefs | Conceptual Index (Lexicon Morphology) | Daily 5 Minutes | Hawaiian Glossary | Sunday Mālama | Archives

Article Categories

The 9 Key Concepts of the Managing with Aloha ‘Ohana in Business Model

Key 1. The Aloha Spirit | Key 2. Worthwhile Work | Key 3. Value Alignment | Key 4. The Role of the Manager Reconstructed | Key 5. Language of Intention | Key 6. The ‘Ohana in Business Model | Key 7. Strengths Management | Key 8. Sense of Place | Key 9. Palena ‘ole

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