Managing With Aloha – A book to read, to treasure, and to learn from

So I finally completed reading Managing With Aloha by my wonderful friend, Rosa Say of Say Leadership Coaching, and so it is time to reflect on what I have learned. I have a few key points to share, and an overall feeling from the book.

Nānā i ke kumu – Look to your source, and find your truth. This is the chapter I just finished, and the one that will stick in my head the longest. Looking to my source to find my truth, I find myself surrounded by those I care for deeply, and realize that I have many to be thankful for.

The other truth I have is lifelong learning, and the reflection time that comes with reading a new book or magazine and learning something I knew little or nothing about. It’s why I have Rosa’s book in my hands and have been reading for the past 2 months to get it completely.

Aloha – If you were like me, before I started reading Rosa’s Talking Story blog and her book, I thought Aloha was simply a greeting. Aloha as in hello, and aloha as in goodbye. Now I realize Aloha is a value of unconditional love, and the outpouring and receiving of the spirit. Wow, now that’s a word that says so much more than “Hey!” Again, getting back to my truth, I realize that I must do a better job of sharing my Aloha with my family, friends, direct reports, peers, and supervisors, and really everyone in my world. I need to slow down and let people know how much I appreciate them, and how much Aloha I have for them.

The last thing I learned is that one must strive for Pono, or rightness and balance. This is something that I am often guilty of not having as much as I would like to have. I am happily content in many things in my life, and that helps my balance, but I know there is more that needs to be in balance for me.

My overall feeling of Managing With Aloha is one of awe, for there are so many values in the book that one can learn from, and put into practice, as managers and leaders. Rosa’s idea of the Daily Five Minutes is my favorite, and can be quite simply summed up as taking 5 minutes each day to spend in a comfortable place with a direct report and let them tell you what’s going on in her/his life. The key is you have to really listen to hear what’s being said, and make the effort to not be judgmental, rather just listen and pay attention.

I also learned that managing and leading are 2 very different things, and one does not need to be a good leader to be a good manager, or be a good manager to be a good leader. Never before was it so clearly laid out as in this wonderful book. I like to think I am an effective manager now, and with practice and continued review of the key concepts in this book, I can only get better. Thank you Rosa for writing such a great book, and for continuing to keep our community alive at Talking Story

You shared your Aloha with me in this book, and you continue to share it with everyone at your blog.

Make It a Great Day…If you’re a manager or leader, buy a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0976019000/sayleadership-20/002-6649314-6456030">Managing with Aloha, for you or someone else who wants to become more effective as a manager or a leader. Now in it’s second printing, this book is timeless and worth the investment many times over.

Phil

Phil Gerbyshak
http://makeitgreat.org