The Power of Ubuntu in Leading Your Team as CEO or Founder - A Real Life Example of Success

This edition is a bit of a departure from marketing, but I recently re-watched a Netflix series and wanted to share one of the learnings from it that I think will help you as a CEO or Founder of a growing business.

The Playbook: A Coaches Rules For Life is a great series of five episodes on Netflix.

It's highly recommended as it interviews some of the greatest sporting leaders of our time and in their words decodes their success.

In particular, it was the first episode that really struck a chord with me as it talked about how Doc Rivers (NBA Coach) used Ubuntu to help bring the team together and win championships.

This is a brilliant real-world application of Ubuntu is in the realm of professional sports. Doc famously utilised the Ubuntu philosophy to lead the Boston Celtics to an NBA Championship in 2008.

He leveraged Ubuntu to nurture a team spirit of shared goals, communal success, and mutual support.

The result?

A powerful, cohesive unit that swept through the playoffs and emerged victorious.

There are a few translations of Ubuntu (a term stemming from a Southern African philosophy, carries a deep and profound meaning), but the one I see most often is this one...

"I am because we are"

I love these five words as they reflect what leadership is about, it's never about one person, but the collective efforts of all.

So, for this edition of The Marketing Gap for CEOs I thought I'd share some of the core principles of Ubuntu so you can start to learn the powerful principles and start to weave them into your leadership style and people strategy.

- Shared Humanity

Ubuntu stresses the idea that our existence and identities are shaped by our relationships with others. We are who we are because of our interactions with the people around us.

- Interdependence

In the spirit of Ubuntu, every person is seen as part of a greater whole. This principle highlights that the well-being of individuals is inextricably linked to the well-being of the community.

- Empathy and Respect

Ubuntu instills the belief that we should treat others with kindness, compassion, and respect, recognising the inherent worth of each individual.

- Communal Success over Individual Achievement

Unlike many Western philosophies that prioritise individual achievement, Ubuntu places a higher value on collective success. The focus is not solely on personal victories but on the triumphs of the group.

- Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Ubuntu encourages reconciliation and seeks to restore harmony after conflicts. It emphasises forgiveness and healing over retribution.

- Humility and Tolerance

Ubuntu fosters humility and tolerance, teaching us to value and appreciate the diverse perspectives within a community.

Your role as the CEO or Founder

As a CEO, your role is to guide your organization to success. But it's important to remember that success is not just about achieving financial targets or market dominance. It's about the journey you undertake as a collective, the culture you cultivate, and the values you uphold.

In a world where businesses are often caught in the throes of cut-throat competition and relentless pursuit of profit, Ubuntu offers a refreshing and effective perspective on leadership.

It reminds us that businesses, like sports teams, thrive when they foster a culture of shared success, mutual respect, and genuine empathy.

Ubuntu is not just a philosophical concept - it's a pragmatic blueprint for effective leadership. Embrace Ubuntu in your leadership style as the CEo or Founder, and you'll find your business not just surviving, but thriving due to the effect it has on your teams.

In the spirit of Ubuntu - remember...

"You are because we are."

I hope you enjoyed edition 4 of The Marketing Gap for CEOs. A bit of a departue from marketing but a topic that interests me and I thought would interest you too.

Steve