In this blog, we’ll delve into the profound philosophy of Ubuntu, exploring how it can revolutionise the coaching profession. We’ll redefine coaching as a practice rooted in interconnectedness, empathy, and a deep respect for humanity through Ubuntu Coaching and Ubuntu Intelligence.
By embracing Ubuntu, coaches can create a more inclusive and transformative space for their clients. We’ll discuss the practical applications of Ubuntu coaching, including techniques to foster deeper connections, build trust, and cultivate a sense of belonging.
But Ubuntu isn’t just about interpersonal relationships. It also extends to the broader context of global transformation. As the coaching profession seeks to become more inclusive and effective, Ubuntu offers a valuable framework for understanding and addressing the challenges of our time. An essential part of this blog article is the call for the recognition of previously less understood and even less recognised ‘ways of coaching’ that do not fit into the purist frames of the ‘professional’ mode of coaching as articulated in the Core Competencies and other definitions of good coaching practice in the ICF.
Positioning Ubuntu and Ubuntu Coaching
The “Inner Game of Tennis” (to insert name of author and year of publication here) stands apart as one of the pioneering works that re-introduced coaching as we know it now to the world of human development. While that is well and good, and quite admirable, I believe that there are other ways of human skills development that were there way before this wonderful piece of work by (name author again here). Ubuntu Coaching is one such approach to human development that can be described as integral to coaching and to human transformation. It is the embodied qualities of the development of human capacity and skills in the Ubuntu ways of being that make it such an increasingly compelling proposition for coaches globally. Ubuntu, meaning ‘I am because we are’, is about living with and through genuine human interconnectedness. It is about the mutual recognition of our collective humanness in our beautiful diversity as fellow humans. An important part of Ubuntu in coaching is the co-creation of sacred and safe spaces for others to become the best versions of themselves without judgment.
One of the starting premises for introducing Ubuntu Coaching is the deepening of the wisdom that has shown coaches that there are more ‘ways of being’ in the world beyond the narrow bounds of what is taught in business schools and leadership programmes. Older and possibly far more complex ways of being human have either been less understood at best, and intentionally suppressed and diminished at worst. What we are seeing now with the space opening up for more Ubuntu-types of work is that these collective ‘ways of being’ and ways of knowing and relating to each other, are gaining long-overdue momentum.
Tools for genuine human connection across and beyond differentiating perspectives are becoming stronger. There is a shift away from the focus on the individual, towards something greater that is needed more now around the world than the narrowness and limitations of the single hero/heroine.
More coaches are starting to understand Ubuntu in coaching and Ubuntu Coaching as not just this interesting systemic African philosophy, but as a powerful coaching ‘way of being’ that the coaching profession and our shared world can leverage to good effect. Ubuntu and Ubuntu Coaching can be effective in strengthening human inter-connection across structures and beyond most elements of diversity, inclusion and justice. This is a tool, a technique, an approach and way of being that helps people to connect – it is a tool to support human relationships. Coaching needs Ubuntu more than Ubuntu needs coaching. Ubuntu was there long before coaching as we know it today. Understanding coaches with Ubuntu can establish connection and of seeing their client not just as extensions of themselves but as gifts.
Ubuntu helps you with greeting. Different languages, subcultures, across the continent – Ubuntu taps into this. Coaching does what we always knew was there. My own grandparents, when I was daily running to school, 7km, barefoot. Said: if you meet any other human being, make sure that you greet them. Never pass without greeting even if you have never met them. Stop and greet and the elder acknowledges you and then you move on. Then you tell them – elaborate greeting – I am going to be late to school I must run. You never know what they can do for you. Later, you may hear that so and so met you when going to school. You get to see each other as human and that is inculcated into you at an early age. To connect authentically with everybody. Not a sterile greeting – what are you here to do, I hear you I see you.
Human beings are more than that – and they don’t just have gifts in them. They are gifts of themselves, and you open the gift by consciously greeting and connecting. What African perspectives of Ubuntu do for coaching is offer a deeper level of connection. Starting point is that everyone has value and worth. Powerful recognition of the other, of self in the other – that disarms, that you are not defined by your job description. What we see – different African cultures – the community or collectives – the importance … people come from these communities – you know their value and worth and respect them for what they do. The organisational culture is that this is how these are done – you are measured on your individual performance. Rallying these strengths – that are in others. We make it so mechanical that it comes from… when raised with Ubuntu we go into workplaces and have to renegotiate how to engage and learn how to be like the others so you are seen as a high performer. When you allow open spaces for people to engage as they are – it is incredible work. Work I am doing on team coaching in Namibia and Zambia – when you are allowed to be themselves – the number of resources and tools and tips and techniques are incredibly amazing. Incredible resources not being used – with them it would make it easier to engage. But they want to fit in. They suppress part of themselves. The work we need to do as coaches – it is safe, ok. We talk psychological safety – but we are not helping it to be real and genuine. If we were to create psychological safety (emotional safety, people not judged for being themselves) – better able to show up with all their gifts expressed – the modern workplace loses out. They leave some of themselves outside in the parking lot and show up what is expected. That is the element of the work we need to do. We need to create clear spaces – for people to show up.
Include tools and techniques and practices.
Exercise of conscious greeting – 15 minutes – it’s fun and easy – I’ve adapted it to work virtually online. It doesn’t work as well in a virtual world. It is more audio oriented. To adapt it we need to do a good mindfulness exercise and ground people’s presencing. So that people see each other. It still works. When people are seen something happens. Genuinely seen and heard – when acknowledge in this way – what we are seeing is the powerful impact of being seen and heard as you are. And moving away from being seen and heard as part of what is expected.
One healing piece for the trauma – of colonialisation – when get to work – they can play a part at work, but it takes effort. There is some healing that happens when I can be truly myself. Worked at Nampak – for five years I coached several executives at that – out of five three left. The HR exec said, Dumi, there is a pattern here. You are haemorrhaging us. Write about it in the book in the self-reflection questions. The 7 self-reflection questions:
The major point of difference with leaders from other parts of the world – how quickly – Not part of number 7 – from the major point of difference. A big part of this is that the difference I see – talking to my clients and people in Japan – yearning for a community connection engagement. As coaches we shift away from that – it is our upbringing, socialisation – it becomes a big part of who we are as we self-actualise. We need to make a contribution – that is big. There is a gap when we are disconnected from our community. I have done something – as in number 7 – my legacy – it differs.
What is humanity – I just want to live my life. Why do I care about others? Real meaning – the life of service. For me and in my network of coaches it is a big deal to want to do that. Coaching as it is now globally needs to tap into all wisdoms around the world. And it has not done that well enough. The thought leadership institute (ICF) needs to do more work to find those gems – in far flung areas that have shaped coaching. That would be worthy of the term coaching. Needs to be more than just a western way of doing it.
Ubuntu coaching – African perspectives lay the foundation and point us toward tapping into those communities. My grandfather’s examples – when he would teach me to be quiet and listen.; ICF number 6 – learn to listen activity – I learned that from my grandfather. You are the first born – you are here not to talk down on anybody. Listen and then give guidance. You are the village elder – you have one mouth and two ears for a reason, listen and listen and listen more. Evoking awareness from that. These things are there. Important that we tap into it. Indigenous community.
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