Leading with Ubuntu in Mind

 Many people commented on a recent blog post of mine on the notion of Ubuntu and they wanted to know more. Coincidentally, I have recently returned from a trip to South Africa where I visited Island where Mandela was detained for 18 of his 27 prison years. I have visited before but this time my wife and I took my three children. It was again a moving experience and, combined with reading more books on Mandela and his fellow political prisoners, a deeper awareness of the harshness of their treatment and the resultant sheer courage, grace and fortitude of these men on the island was made more poignant. Despite their treatment, these men held themselves to a higher moral standard. They refused to hate their wardens, and sought to build relationships with them. The idea of Ubuntu was forever in their thinking. “I can only be great when you are great” and the idea that each belongs to a greater whole and the role of the individual is to build capacity in other and not break the other down pervaded their thoughts

What does this mean for leadership and innovation? What does it look like in an organisation? These are some of the questions people have been asking me. When we give workshops on Ubuntu these are some of the practical take ways we leave people with. Ubuntu leaders:

·      Know and engage with the strengths of each team member to unleash creativity and innovation. Leaders then build powerful teams around unique strengths and qualities. The Ubuntu leader seeks not to control but to work with the individuals to provide a platform to enhance their strengths and therefore their contributions. Work with your people to identify their strengths, and share them with the team. We have people write a paper of 20 bullet points entitled, ‘How to get the best out of me’. We also have people list their top three strengths on cards and place them on their desks for all to see. The cards are entitled, ‘What you should know about me’. This clarity creates trust, speeds up interactions and promotes a positive workplace culture.

·      Allow mistakes. For people to innovate they need to be trusted. I have worked with organizations who celebrate risks, the learning that comes from each risk or mistake thereby creating a culture of innovation. I urge leaders to utilize a “Yes and” mentality so that ideas are not shut down but challenged and built upon. Playing the We also play a “Yes and…” game where ideas are opened and innovative solutions are found.

·      Create clarity of purpose for their team members. This increases mental and physical well-being and enhances resiliency which is a key characteristic of people willing to challenge the status quo and innovate. Teaching leaders to do this creates a greater focus and resilience in their teams.

·      Listen. In the words of Stephen Covey, they “Seek first to understand and then to be understood.” They engage in empathic listening truly aiming to understand and appreciate the other’s perspective. Each person is seen and respected.

·      Ask these questions of their people: “What are you working on and how can I help?” This servant-leadership approach values engaging each person in utilizing their strengths. The leader constantly models these behaviours.

·      Are customer-aware. They relentlessly question, “Who are our customers and how can we better serve them?” Ubuntu is not us and them. It is all-inclusive that means putting the customer experience in the centre.

·      Know that an Ubuntu mindset is good for business. Any company that is a great place to work typically finds itself profitable. People come to work ready to give to their colleagues and customers delivering strong results and increasing customer and worker loyalty.

Ubuntu is not an organizational program. It is a mindset that represents a values-based approach to leadership. It allows processes to function more effectively and improves the quality of work life. It shows how to engage with others in a more meaningful, human way. It is a paradigm which becomes a way of being.

Organizations need leaders that lead with gratitude, humility, grace and who understand that success comes from unleashing the greatness in others.

Peter Dry

January 2017

 Picture Source: https://www.africanexponent.com/post/ubuntu-applying-the-african-cultural-concept-to-business-75