When the US Federal Government gave notice that the State of Hawaii will no longer be covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, it meant that Hawaii’s residents and businesses faced more risks as they could no longer avail low-cost protection against losses from flooding or storm surge damages. In case of a flooding disaster, communities will no longer have access to financial or housing assistance, or coastal disaster response services. Representative Ryan Yamane who currently serves as the House Chair of the Water, Land, and Hawaiian Affairs committee knew that the move will impact families’ abilities to bounce back from disasters and affect the state’s resilience.
It takes years to pass bills during normal legislation processes but Representative Yamane of the 37th State House District only had 6 months to lead the creation of a new policy that will provide disaster protection and relief as well as help mitigate environmental risks to 60,000 homes and businesses. Yet what seemed like a complicated and possibly contentious task was completed in 5 months, with the bill only undergoing 1 minor amendment and getting accepted by the Federal Government in 2 months. Rep. Yamane used extensive stakeholder engagement and collaboration strategies to ensure that Hawaii communities are protected through new legislation.
Rep. Yamane focused on meaningfully engaging the public and private sectors in the process of developing the new policy. “As a leader, I have to make sure my ideals involve everybody. But when I’m talking to each stakeholder, I try to relate to their individual backgrounds.” He also pointed out that, “The vision of your leadership and what you want must be macro in orientation but micro in its application. People have to be able to buy in.”
He highlighted 4 factors that contributed to the effort’s success. First is knowledge, which is valuable information relevant to all stakeholders. Second is stakeholder engagement, which is a series of processes that needs to be multifaceted and inclusive. Its primary purpose is building trust because, “When people know you care, only then will they care about what you know. And never forget to be open, respectful, and honor one another’s differences”.
The factor third is vision, and leaders must have one. The idea must be sellable, and outcomes need to be effective. Fourth is communication, having the ability to share information and engage people. “When you go out and talk to people, plan your presentation like a story. People love stories and they will remember. It’s also good to have facts and figures when needed,” he added.
These insights were part of Representative Yamane’s talk titled Collaborative Strategies for the Public and Private Sectors in Creating Environmental Resilience Measures for the Asian Institute of Management’s (AIM) Reimagining Societies: The Bridging Leadership Series. His talk also showcased the Bridging Leadership Framework and its three core processes of ownership, co-ownership, and co-creation. He explained how a leader co-create solutions that address social divides by engaging stakeholders towards a common vision and response.
During the opening, Ms. Junica Soriano, AIM’s Associate Director for Team Energy Center for Bridging Leadership, talked about the Philippines’ consistent high ranking in global vulnerability and climate change effects indices despite the admirable strides that the Philippines has achieved in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management in the last 6 to 10 years. These rankings emphasize the continuing need to build capacities and develop innovative solutions that will strengthen the resilience of communities and businesses in the country and the region. She shared that with this in view, “the Asian Institute of Management and its Center for Bridging Leadership are developing and delivering new programs that will bring public and private sector leaders together to develop new resilience-building initiatives in the Philippines and Asia.” She added that, “AIM is applying its expertise in developing leaders and transformers in the business and development sectors to helping the Philippines and other Asian countries attain uninhibited growth free from setbacks caused by disasters.”
Following the Bridging Leadership Series, an executive course titled Bridging Resilience in Business and Communities: Co-creating Ecosystem-based Adaptation Measures Using the Bridging Leadership Approach will run in January 2020. An even bigger 2-year full fellowship program called Bridging Leadership Initiative for Sustainability and Climate Resilience which will launch by March 2020.
For interested parties, please send an email to teamenergycenter@aim.edu.