A Bunch of Hui
The
National Association of Counties Annual Conference for 2005
will be held in Hawaii. The HR Doctor has never been there,
but I am aware that it is very beautiful, has a rich cultural
heritage of its own, was an independent kingdom until taken
over by the United States and goes out of its way to welcome
visitors.
Despite never having been there,
there is one cultural legacy of the indigenous people of
Hawaii, among many no doubt, from which every manager could
benefit - the Hui.
In
our lives, we can never have too much Hui. Hui,
according to my friend and colleague Mark Nerenhausen, who
lived in Maui for many years, is a "gathering for
inspiration." It is a meeting of an extended family, village,
community or group. It is an opportunity for "grounding" and
reviewing common values. In short, a Hui is a blend of
a staff strategic retreat, a meeting with people you know and
have worked or lived with for a long time and a chance for a
rebirth of ideas and collegiality.
Mark is president of the Broward
Center for the Performing Arts, a wonderful inter-governmental
agency born out of an agreement between a city, a county, a
school board and private partners. His periodic all-staff
gatherings are called Huis and embody the best of that
tradition Ñ minus the dancers. The staff gathers to celebrate
the successes of the past quarter, to look ahead at the
challenges and the opportunities they will face in the next
three months, and to hear reports about the long-term
prospects for the organization and the strategic direction set
by the city, county, school and private industry colleagues
who come together to form a unique consortium which is the
Broward Center.
Part of the Hui is
one-sided communication or knowledge transference described
above. However, another part is a caring opportunity for staff
members to provide input, ideas and innovations that can shape
the strategic future of the organization. In that sense, the
communication is definitely two-way and it provides mutual
feedback.
The
final component of the Hui is celebration. It is
recognition that the staff has worked hard and accomplished
much. It is an appreciation for the part played by the
organization in the life of the community and of how the staff
brings the organization to life in the first place.
The
concept of the Hui as a gathering for inspiration is a
very powerful model that can be transplanted to every public
or private business. It is a mix of inspiration, perspiration
and dedication which can help make an organization and an
individual successful.
The
Hui concept can work very well in a family as well as
in a workplace setting. When was the last time that you
arranged a family gathering to look ahead to celebrate and to
appreciate? It need not be formal - especially with a
small group - but the importance of the concept of a
gather for inspiration is universal! Dont miss out. Life
should really be a bunch of Hui!
All
the best from the HR Doctor!
Phil Rosenberg http://www.hrdr.net/
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