Ubuntu: How to create a positive workplace community

As many of you are aware, we have South African roots, and this is why the concept of Ubuntu really resonates with us. We believe that the modern principles of Ubuntu can create a positive and thriving workplace community. It can help managers to empathise with their employees and to understand them better. Ubuntu lies at the very heart of our humanity.

"I am because we are"

(Ubuntu translated)

Ubuntu means to act selflessly to care and protect your fellow human beings. A more formal interpretation is that as a value it “informs the regulation of African interpersonal relations and dispute resolution”. When you apply Ubuntu principles to employee management, you are likely to see a positive shift in attitudes and behaviours.

The impact of someone’s actions

As a person-centred philosophy, Ubuntu works on the principle that if you treat people well, they will perform better. When leaders and managers consider the impact of one person’s actions on the whole company, they will start to understand the value of Ubuntu principles. And when it comes to performance management, there is a lot we can learn from Ubuntu.

Let’s look at the role of a cleaner. When they don’t do their job properly, everyone in the workplace is affected. Unclean desks, offices, toilets and so on, can be bad for morale (as well as hygiene!). Next, let’s consider the tasks carried out by the payroll clerk. If they don’t do their job correctly, then nobody gets paid. And don’t forget a groundsperson. Their role is to keep car parks clear, and foliage trimmed, so you can park your car without a scratch.

Whether someone is at a junior or senior level, this doesn’t necessarily make them more important. Everyone in the business needs to carry out their jobs collectively to make a successful company. Ubuntu thinking considers the value of everyone in the business.

How to bring Ubuntu in the workplace

Here are three steps you can take to start implementing Ubuntu into your workplace:

• Step 1: Empathise and respect your people
  Applying Ubuntu to your business starts with the leadership styles of senior management. How can you show your employees how much you value them? Empathise with their challenges, listen to their needs, and show them the dignity they deserve. They are not purely “cogs in an engine”; they are the lifeblood of your business. Everyone has a vital role, and each person affects the whole.

• Step 2: Trust and encourage collaborative working
  By trusting your teams to work collaboratively and encouraging them to work together, you can create a community of co-workers. Instead of measuring productivity on individual achievements, base your metrics on budget and deliverables. Use projects to incentivise teams to achieve, rather than compete. Colleagues can support each other better when tasks and responsibilities are shared.

• Step 3: Loyalty from feeling valued
  When every employee feels equally included in the workplace, they will feel valuable to the business and valued by their managers. When people feel valued, they will work harder for your company. They will be more motivated to look after each other and to support with any tasks. They will start to buy-in to the overall business goals. And this is when a positive workplace community is borne.

Practising Ubuntu will increase positivity

When people work selflessly and together as a collective, they will learn each other’s value. Teams can shoulder daily pressures, stepping up when someone is busy and sharing all the glory when targets are met. Leaders and managers will be able to lead a highly motivated workforce more effectively. Also, when you take the time to care for your employees, issues are spotted quicker, and a greater understanding can be gained by people’s behaviours.

Why not bring Ubuntu principles into your own workplace? An Ubuntu approach is a human approach. Empathising with your employees will motivate them to perform better, leading to greater productivity levels. But ultimately, you will be creating an inclusive corporate family, which could help you attract future talent, as well as helping you retain staff for the long term.

Our Retained HR Service and Mentoring, Training and Development for managers can help you apply Ubuntu to your human resources approach. We can review and help you design effective HR strategies to help you create a positive workplace community.

If you would like to know how you can bring Ubuntu principles to your business, or you need advice on another HR matter, please get in touch.

Sources:
https://louderthanten.com/coax/ubuntu-for-project-managers
https://kr.co.za/product/ubuntu-shaping-the-current-workplace-with-african-wisdom/#:~:text=Ubuntu%20means%20to%20sacrifice%20for,and%20wisdom%20of%20our%20forebears