The Strategic Leader as Host

Idea 26 for 2025

I recently spoke at the @NAAAP conference on "The Strategic Leader as Host: Building Connection and Collaboration in Polarized Times."

I began with the premise that we could draw from our experiences of being #host, #guest and even a #stranger, and giving and receiving #hospitality from others. I suggested that these experiences are universal and cross-cultural, although I distilled key Asian and Hawaiian cultural values and traditions of hosting and hospitality and the web of interrelationships between hosts and guests.

My argument was centred on the fact that in our #divisive, #polarized, #anxious times, where #fear, #distrust and #misinformation abound and technological, economic and climate crises confuse and confound, a leader can adopt the role of hosting to build #connection, #communication and #exchange.

Briefly, I connected Chinese and Hawaiian notions of hosting that are imbued with #agency and #responsibility, notions of #reciprocity and #purpose, to host leadership theory and its notions of 6 key roles that the host can play. These are the: initiator, inviter, space creator, gatekeeper, connector, and co-participator.

I then created a scenario and had attendees divide themselves into group to try out notions of being a host and guest to solve a real-life business problem, and asked attendees to apply Asian cultural values and host leadership theory as part of their solution.

As any educator and facilitator can attest, it is always a pleasure to see a room buzz with engagement, interactivity and dialogue. I was pleased to the range of thought and insight during the debrief and in conversations afterwards. I am grateful for my co-participants in leaning into cultural values, combining with host leadership concepts to help bridge divides in their everyday lives!

Light blue slide on which text is written. From a presentation on The Strategic Leader as Host by Enliven Learning

NAAAP KC conference attendees, attending the Strategic Leader as Host sessio