I am because we are; using the Ubuntu philosophy when coaching teams and leaders.

Ubuntu is a South African philosophy building on deep interdependence encouraging social harmony, empathy and collective responsibility. I am because you are! When coaching teams and their leaders I find this to be foundational in building harmonious collaborations.

"A team is only as strong as its weakest link" is a saying, but true collaboration in the Ubuntu spirit erases the weakness because the team works as one, using the strength in every individual and inviting diversity at its best. This is why I love bringing Ubuntu when coaching global teams.

Creating connectedness through Ubuntu in a session I had the pleasure of facilitating together with Nobantu, the creator of the Ubuntu in Coaching program.

A team consists of many individuals and for harmony to arrive everyone needs to accept the others as they are. In coaching conversations I sometimes come across frustration and friction due to small differences that damage the efficiency of collaborations, like a pebble in a shoe.

One topic that often comes up as a challenge in individual coaching conversations in large corporations in Europe is language. Today many use English as a common language when working. Isn't it lovely to have a language we can use together! Despite this opportunity many non-native English speakers share frustration of not being able to express themselves as they wish , or at the level that native speakers do. This frustration can be detrimental and affect the confidence of the team, limiting collaboration and creativity.

I choose this example as I celebrate the positives of us having a shared language, and because it ignores other sometimes more challenging inequalities that can play a part in team alignment. It's a small pebble but it can still cause friction when we allow it. It's an example of the importance of creating trust strong enough so that perfection is not expected for true collaboration and co-creation.

No matter if the diversity is language, neurodiversity, cultural heritage or another intersectionality Ubuntu invites the same method to build bridges. To build behaviour on the concept of "I am, because you are", highlighting the importance of removing the pebble in the shoe so that we can all enjoy the dance. Nobody said it's easy, but it's a way that I have seen, heard and felt work.

Can you see the chicken? One of our neighbours' chicken ran away and we managed to catch it in a laundry basket to protect it from cars. After they picked it up we found an egg in our garden.

I have been inviting curiosity, courage and compassion into my work with leaders and teams for a long time. Two, in my opinion, very important additional elements when working with teams, that stand out in the Ubuntu philosophy, are co-creation and connectedness. Adding these elements to the work deepens trust and increases the effectiveness and resilience of the team.

One exercise that builds connection in global teams, from my experience, is exploring how Ubuntu shows up around the world. These stories expand and connect humanity across the globe but also with the past, the future, our co-habitants on earth, earth itself and the sky, in a regenerative cycle of connection and interdependence. Through this we don't only see an individual, we also see the systems around them.

Nature is a stakeholder and connected to everything we do and how we are. You will find a picture of nature in all my blog posts.

This systemic awareness of how we are all connected often shows up in behaviour as courage and accountability. A difficult conversation may not be as difficult when one sees the full picture and the impact it can have. It may not even be difficult when approached from a perspective of care and compassion.

Growing up spending summers in the Finnish archipelago I was taught that when leaving in autumn one would always leave some fresh water, some cans of food and hang the key by the door. There could be someone caught up in bad weather who needed shelter, by hanging the key by the door you ensured they would not have to break a window.

This sets an intention of goodwill that invites collaboration. Even collaboration with a stranger who passes by in the night. An intention that invites perhaps a thank you note and them hanging the key back in its place as they depart. At least when Ubuntu is present.

I have had the luxury of living in many countries and for me a criteria for finding the place to call home in a new country is how people act towards each other in the street or in a shop. When people greet each other, well that is a wonderful sign to me.

I couldn't find a good picture of a greeting so you get to say hi to our dog, one of our global co- habitants.

Ubuntu is all about seeing each other, hearing each other and being aware of each other. That goes much further than a greeting in the street, because it means sensing the emotions and asking what another person needs. The courage to show your emotions and for others to acknowledge them, builds a strong resilient respectful team. Coaching the Ubuntu way invites trusting relationships and goal achievement, thanks to the accountability we build together.

Many joke about the Nordics and personal space. During Covid the joke was that for people in the Nordics Covid was a struggle because all of a sudden we were asked to stand closer to each other, as the directive was 1-2 meters. I choose to see this as evidence of the interconnectedness between us. We can sense each other, even when 2 meters apart looking in different directions, even if we have never met before. Ubuntu invites that connection to build strength in leadership and teams.

Coaching relies on identified actions to be taken for goal achievement, both Ubuntu and Finnish culture are action oriented. The fact that people choose to stand apart in Finland does not affect co-creation or a team's commitment to action, it's only a cultural behaviour.

I celebrate that despite the diversity between South Africa and the Nordic country of Finland I can see similarities through the Ubuntu philosophy. Inviting Ubuntu into my coaching has offered a presence and awareness, not only for me as a coach but also for the participants I work with, no matter where they are from, as well as all other stakeholder including Earth itself.

I'm curious about what stories you may have to share inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy? Either a story from your culture, one about connection or perhaps how connectivity and interdependence has lead to success in leadership or team achievement? My post will only be a post unless we co-create and allow it to grow. Please do share your thoughts and insights. and perhaps we can make this into a beautiful collection of inspiring Ubuntu stories.