Our beautiful state is known for many things: Incredible surfing, fantastic food, otherworldly views, and breathtaking sunsets among others. But we’re also known for the magic of the Aloha Spirit, defined by the state legislation as “the coordination of mind and heart within each person. It brings each person to the self. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.”
The statement codified in legislation goes on to say what we all know, “Aloha is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation. Aloha means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. Aloha is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.”
Implementing Aloha Into The Workplace
But what does this have to do with work, you might ask? It has everything to do with building a working environment and culture in which everyone is treated with respect and decency, where we see each other’s value as dependent and intertwined with our own, with every victory and hardship shared.
As a manager or supervisor, you have a leadership role in making sure this spirit permeates your company and that your employees at all levels feel supported, respected, valued, and treated with kindness.
Practices To Adopt In The Workplace
An easy practice to adopt is to show appreciation for your team and their hard work. Especially during busy stretches, it’s very easy for employees to feel overrun, burned out, and stressed. Tell them that you know they’re doing their best, that you appreciate how hard they’re working, and that your company’s success is directly the result of their efforts. Something as simple as saying thank you can make a huge difference in morale and can go a long way toward building good employee retention rates while building a strong office culture.
Respecting Time And Work-Life Balance
Secondly, showing respect for people’s time can help people understand that taking time off is not a trick or a trap. If a manager can take a day off, employees need to know that their time is just as valuable, and that they need rest and relaxation as much as anyone. If office hours end at 6 p.m., no one needs to check email or respond to calls until the next morning. Everyone’s hour is just as valuable as anyone else’s and time away from work should be spent focused on home, friends, family, and things that make people happy.
Celebrating Together
Third, bring your team together to celebrate. Whether it’s birthdays, national holidays (even the occasional silly ones like National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day), traditional Hawaiian commemorations, or cultural events, take the time out of a busy day to share a snack or meal together. Treat your team to lunch or baked goods as a little break, allowing them to have a little fun and clear their minds together. Working for a solid eight hours without respite does no one any good!
Adventures And Team Building
When possible, go out for an adventure. We have so much natural beauty and so many wonderful places to go out and enjoy — why not organize a team-building exercise to incorporate our gorgeous environment? Take a kayaking or canoeing trip, or go hiking together. Even a company retreat near a waterfall can help bring people together while enjoying the great outdoors.
The Essence Of Aloha Spirit
All of these activities need to come from a place of taking care of each other, treating each other with respect, and centering each activity and task with kindness and empathy. We must be good to each other and ourselves because we are so much stronger when we are unified by the Aloha Spirit.
Partner With Hawaii’s Staffing Experts
If you’re looking to add to your team, why not work with a staffing company that understands what Aloha really means? Bishop & Company is rooted here on the islands and is dedicated to giving our clients access to highly qualified job candidates who can fortify your team with talent, ability, and that all-important sense of Aloha. Give us a call today and let’s get started!
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