Emphasis on “antidote”! After two days, both kids were sick with a virulent case of salmonella. We never did determine the source; it could have been an underdone scrambled egg or Uncle Stan’s sushi. Either way, North Hawai’i Community Hospital’s ER and ICU became our living quarters for almost five days. What my wife and I witnessed in those five days (excluding the gory details) was a first-class exhibit of “Aloha Spirit” on display. The paramedics returned from a 24-hour shift to ask about our sons. The hotel telephone operator sent her daughter to the hospital to make sure I had a hot meal. Security staff brought us bottle after bottle of Gatorade® to help the kids rehydrate. Our luxury hotel extended our stay indefinitely and cut our room rate from $350 to $99 a night.

Those acts of kindness, to paraphrase a popular bumper sticker, were not random. As we flew through the night back home, with both boys recovered and sleeping quietly, I couldn’t help thinking that something unique and marvelous had happened to us. “Aloha Spirit” had become “Aloha Leadership”. With each interaction, strangers had “adopted” us and treated us as family. They took leadership roles where none was required or expected. Was our experience an anomaly, or the sign of something deeper? Perhaps there was more to the 50^th State than black sand, hula and macadamia nuts?

My quest for insight began with the idea to interview top Hawaiian business and community leaders. I wanted to know how “Aloha” impacted how they lead others, and how they teach leadership. It became apparent immediately that my definition of “Aloha” was vastly inadequate. The word “Aloha” is not just a greeting. In his white paper Hawaiian Values and the Workplace, writer and leadership teacher Peter Apo defines “Aloha” as a “Reflecting Prism.”

Aloha stands as a behavioral belief system from which all other values seem to flow.

When I interviewed Peter, he expanded on that thought.

Aloha Spirit impacts my life in both personal and business relationships. The expectation is that an Aloha greeting means reciprocity; that you and I are expressing total trust and friendship.

Here’s an example of what he means. I asked him why “Aloha” had taken on a meaning to the outside world that was so narrow, simply, “Hello” or “Goodbye”.

“Honi” is a word that refers to an actual greeting. In ‘old Hawai’i’ it meant the exchange of the breath of life. Instead of shaking hands, you brought your forehead to the forehead of the person you were greeting. You exchanged this ‘breath of life’ and extended a hand of trust and love. This reflects a commitment you’ve made to the safety, health and well-being of that person. It gives them the benefit of the doubt; that they are a good person and will not harm you.

Think about your leadership style. Is it based on openness, or on concealment? All organizations have secrets; classified information or intellectual properties are two good examples. How often do we keep what should be common knowledge under wraps? Is your understanding of your job expectations, success metrics and timelines clearly defined for you? A handshake proves that you have no weapons with which to hurt me. “Honi” proves that you always have their best interests in mind; that’s why “Honi” or Transparency is one of the principles of Aloha Leadership™.

“Aloha” is not unique to Hawai’i. Robin Campaniano made this point when I interviewed him. Robin’s father was in the military, so he grew up in a family that followed his Dad from assignment to assignment.

I experience Aloha in many settings. I’ve found it in Plattsburgh, New York, and in Alabama. We have no “separation” in an island community, so people are sensitive to the connections we all share.

Robin heads the Ulupono Initiative* which is dedicated to helping Hawai’i become self-sufficient in energy, food and waste reduction. He has to know his community, and they have to trust him. He’s tasked with asking all Hawaiians to change behaviors that have served them for thousands of years.

The biggest challenge for many leaders is convincing others to adapt; in essence, to move forward in times of change. It’s easier when you’re trying to lead one person, but what if you have a team or an enterprise who reports to you? Another principle of Aloha Leadership™ is Knowing Your Culture. This doesn’t just mean knowing where you come from; its understanding where others come from. And this can’t be defined solely by geography, skin tone or accent.

Many of us fall into the trap of assuming we know someone because we’ve met someone like them before. My father is a 70-something bald white man from the north-east USA. I meet other 70-something bald white men from the north-east USA, and I assume things about them. My wife is Hispanic. Her friends meet other Hispanic women, and based on their knowledge of my wife, they make assumptions about these women. This isn’t racism, but it is stereotyping.

Leaders can’t afford to stereotype. You’re winning “hearts and minds” one at a time. The community of the people you’re trying to reach is small. Hawaii’s Ni’ihau is a small island with a population that is tight-knit, where everyone knows everyone. So is the island of Manhattan. So is your company or organization, wouldn’t you agree?

Transparency, Knowing Your Culture, Knowing Yourself and Communication are the four cornerstones of Aloha Leadership™.**

Aloha Leadership™ workshops, keynotes and coaching help your organization’s leaders build these four critical skills in an engaging environment. Hands-on practical application and follow-up ensure accountability and professional growth. Aloha means they’re changing the way they lead personally and professionally. Find out if Aloha Leadership™ is right for your organization by calling Mike Faber at 303.594.3097 (US/Intl) or contacting our offices via email at info@mikefaber.com.

*Learn more about the Ulupono Initiative at http://www.uluponoinitiative.com/

**Thanks to US Brigadier General (Ret.) Dwight Kealoha

The thought that comforts me, and perhaps you when you make decisions to forge ahead despite a cloudy forecast, is that every great moment in my life evolved from a chance, a risk, a dream. The quote that sums this up best is one from the playwright Arthur Miller. I keep it prominently displayed in my office, right next to the papier mache pig and a baseball autographed by a team of ten year-olds.

"One can't stand forever on the shore. At some point, filled with indecision, skepticism, reservation and doubt, you either jump in or concede that life is elsewhere."

When will you jump next? What bounty will you reap from that leap of faith? For an inspiring look at the latest Aloha Leadership video, please visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj4IAFSY4zY

Call 720.851.5208 (US/Intl) to learn how to bring Aloha Leadership to your next meeting, off-site or leadership conference.

When I asked Tom about the challenge of passing down the importance of cultural heritage in a place where culture is rapidly changing, he told me this marvelous story.

"When my eighth grandson was born, along with the nurses and doctor, I was in the room. As his head crowned, I began a ritual that has been repeated many times over. I began to chant our family's lineage, as I've traced it back seventeen generations on the Islands. We have been here for seventy-seven generations, at least that's as far back as I can tell. So the sense of family and past begins at the moment of birth! The point I make to my kids, my grandkids, and I hope for many more years and generations is this. You are a rivulet of a great river of ancestors. That means tremendous power and tremendous responsibility."

Here's a Hawaiian word to add to your vocabulary. "Mo'olelo" means "history", and how leaders pass down the history, lessons and legacy of the past is critical to how our people and organizations grow. A sense of responsibility to that past is one characteristic of any Aloha Leader.

To stay up to date with Aloha Leadership, please link up with me via LinkedIn at http://www.linkedin.com/in/leadershipspeaker

Ever have this happen to you? A complete stranger with whom you share no apparent connection in life suddenly breaks through the Internet "safety net" and wants to have real, human contact? A bit off-putting, wouldn't you say? Joe seemed sincere, and when I checked his profile he didn't appear to look like a serial killer, former Klan leader or rabid telemarketer. So I called him.

Turns out Joe and I share a passion for sales and for building relationships that actually mean something. Don't get me wrong, the web that we cast courtesy of the Internet and social media is amazing. It doesn't replace human contact though, and that's a lesson we all need to re-learn from time to time. It gets easy to be caught up in a day filled with webinars and emails. The phone rings, and we look at "caller I.D." before we answer. No interaction it seems is entered into without clear expectations about outcome, who we're communicating with, and how long we have until the next interaction.

Here's a challenge. The next time the caller ID shows an 800 number, or a strange name, or "ABC Media", pick up the phone with gusto. Yes, chances are it's another robo-call, or someone asking for money. The risk of not picking up that call, is that you might lose the chance to learn something new or expand your horizons. After all, it's their dime.

Here’s what makes this break-through concept a winner!

Ø      Mike will kick off each call with a leadership challenge example from his own background of 25 years of corporate leadership experience. This keeps the call focused on leadership issues, versus becoming a “gripe” session.

Ø      Focused coaching on one topic enables leaders from different enterprises and management levels to learn from each other.

Ø      One-on-one leadership coaching for managers, team leads and supervisors for a budget-friendly investment.

Ø      A time management/coaching skills/professional development planning action step that can be implemented easily will be introduced on each conference call.

Ø      All interactions are on a first-name or pseudonym basis to encourage idea-sharing and problem solving.

Ø      Coaching sessions are spread through-out the month in a variety of time slots. This enables your leaders to participate when it’s most convenient for them, and when participation means a minimal intrusion on work-hours. They can drop off the call anytime, or join in at any time.

Ø      All calls are recorded so leaders can listen at their leisure. Highlights will be turned into down-loadable Pod-casts.

Ø      All leaders can opt-in (at no additional cost) to Mike’s monthly email newsletter digest of sales and leadership tips.

Mike Faber is a Coach Training Alliance certified coach with more than 3,500 hours of coaching experience. Mike’s been certified at the Elite level of coaching with Robbins Research International and has worked with business executives and front-line managers at Oracle, Ball Aerospace, Oppenheimer Funds, Charles Schwab and Company, Hitachi Consulting, Sage Hospitality Resources and Colorado Springs Utilities.

# # #

At $225 per hour, Drop-In Leadership Coaching is a cost-effective development tool for your business. When you purchased convenient 6-12- or 18-session “packages” your investment is clearly defined and easy to budget. To find out more, or to schedule a free Drop-In Leadership “demo” session, please call Mike Faber at 720.851.5208 or toll-free at 877.262.2402.

1. Posting on social media.
2. Writing and recording articles and blogs.
3. Making business development calls.
4. Making new contacts.
5. Offering help to someone I know.
6. Asking for help from someone I know.
7. Contacting a client who I've worked with in the past.
8. Phoning instead of emailing.
9. Conducting an interview for a writing or speaking project.
10. Creating my keynotes and workshops.
11. Writing a thank-you note.
12. Marketing my services and the services of others.
13. Making a referral.

This list was developed during a coaching interaction I had recently. Like many business-people, I have always known which activities produce results, but focusing on those activities was a real challenge sometimes. Sound familiar? Here's how to break out of that trap once and for all.

Write one of your revenue-producing activities on an index card, and repeat. Once you have a stack, large or small, of all those activities, shuffle the deck and pick a card. The more time you spend doing those activities, the more fulfilled and successful you will be.

For more great tips on sales, leadership and success, please download the Mike Faber IPhone app at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sell52cards/id369889097?mt=8&uo=6

For keynotes, workshops and Mike's Aloha Leadership presentation, call 720.851.5208 (US)

Mike Faber’s 50 Top Presentation Tips!

1.  Accentuate the positive as you coach yourself.  Resist the temptation to focus on what you’re doing wrong, and redirect your energies to recognize and reward what you’re doing right. 

2.  When in doubt, ask a question.  Asking your audience for their input shows your concern for their experience of you. 

3.  Respect your audience.  Don’t ask for respect, show it.  Keep the focus on the rewards they can reap from your hard work and preparation.

4.  Speak deliberately, give your audience the time to process and react to what you have to say.

5.   Communicate the key points of your message repeatedly.  Tell stories to illustrate those points.

6.   Distill complex information into its basest elements.  If you can’t describe a concept clearly and succinctly so that every audience member understands it, leave the concept on the cutting room floor.

7.    Concentrate on making others look good, the reflection you see will be your own.

8.    Stuff happens.  If the projector doesn’t work, you misplace your speaker’s notes, or the felt marker goes dry, don’t apologize.  Soldier on.  Better yet, have a backup plan.

9.     Understand the audience’s motivation to listen.  Find out who’ll be listening, why and what they expect from you.

10.    No-one has a script except for you.  If you erred on a fact, correct yourself.  If you erred on a style point, ignore it and move on. 

Download the IPhone app for just 99 cents! You'll get the remaining 40 top presentation tips, articles on presentation, sales and leadership skills, plus blog updates and video podcasts. Here's the URL http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sell52cards/id369889097?mt=8&uo=6