Develop an Inclusive Organizational Culture
Are your leaders embracing the diverse work styles on their teams?
February 1, 2018
How to Share Feedback Effectively
February 5, 2018
Using Ubuntu as your guide.
In 1993 when I left South Africa to move to the U.S., the country was transitioning to a free democracy after years of apartheid. With eleven official languages, South Africa is definitely diverse, and what they really needed was to come together as a nation.
I look at some of the global and local companies we work with and see a similar dynamic, where cultural and other differences are still urging people to come together to help their organizations grow and perform.
As leaders struggle, still today, to create inclusive organizational cultures, I believe we can learn from the South African concept of Ubuntu, which can be described as, “the welfare of each of us is dependent fundamentally upon the welfare of all of us.”
Or as described by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, “You can’t be human all by yourself.”
Here are 4 tips to encourage your team to forge bonds with their colleagues to really come together.
- Tell your team how important it is to have coworkers they can routinely turn to for advice or emotional support when they have built strong relationships.
- Connect employees with peers who you think have things in common (hobbies and interests).
- Role model deeper connections by talking about topics that matter most to employees during regular one-on-one discussions.
- Have Ubuntu brainstorming sessions on how everyone can become conscious as to how they affect each other.
What are Ubuntu brainstorming sessions?
Well in brief, Ubuntu asks us to open our hearts and to share. Pain is shared, joy is shared, and achievement is shared. You can help your team share with each other how they believe they can be more connected and how they can help others connect more.
Inclusive teams and companies perform better, are more creative, and are better at solving problems. Period!
Our practical Embracing Diversity Workshop comes with a host of tools to ensure sustainable results, including a comprehensive tool to help team members find their way around the world without tripping on their good intentions, plus a Bias Buster for learning, on-going, how to adapt behaviors when unconscious biases degrade performance, decisions, and collaboration.
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