Ubuntu and the Power of Teams

I heard this word, Ubuntu, the other day, and loved the meaning behind it. It is a word from African philosophy that stands for unity and community. Ubuntu is a way of life that values interdependence and collective efforts. It teaches us that we are all in this together and that we must work as a team to achieve our common goals. The phase often used with this philosophy is "I am because we are." I love that and it got me to thinking about teams and the power of a unified team that is committed to the success of the team and the organization.

I saw this so beautifully illustrated in my previous role where I was asked to step in and take over leading Operations. I started by attending as many team meetings as possible and what I quickly saw were individuals thinking only about themselves and not the team as a whole. Through a process of empowerment and coaching I was able to get the individuals to think as a team with their sole purpose to grow, blend, package and deliver our products to our customers at the highest standards. They began prioritizing the customer's needs over their individual needs. They saw the importance of working together to serve the customer. In 2 years that team went from a fractured, siloed group to one that cared about each other, coached each other, brought production concentrations and yields to highs that no one had never seen before. Their combined efforts resulted in margins that grew by 25% and cost avoidance of +$1M. We also achieved our annual strategic goal of 2Xing manufacturing capacity 6 months ahead of schedule, positioning the team to meet annual sales increases of 15-20% for the next three years.

Collaboration brings diverse perspectives and insights

Kenneth H Blanchard once said "None of us are as smart as all of us."

One of the biggest advantages of working in a team is the diverse perspectives and insights that each team member brings to the table. When different people come together, they bring their unique experiences, backgrounds, and areas of expertise. This diversity of viewpoints and insights is what allows teams to come up with creative and innovative solutions to problems that would be difficult to solve alone.

Division of labor allows for specialization

One of the first things I did as the new leader was identify where the individuals were getting bogged down by activities and responsibilities that were not part of their job description or role and remove those distractions. They learned quickly that they could trust and rely on their team to get their individual work done. This helped team members focus on what they do best and contribute to overall efficiency. It also allowed for greater accountability and responsibility, as tasks were allocated based on individual strengths and weaknesses.

Improved decision-making and problem-solving

Teams are better equipped to make good decisions and solve complex problems than individuals working alone. When teams are able to collaborate and share ideas, they are able to determine the best course of action based on the collective knowledge and expertise of the group. This also provides a support system for each team member, as they can ask for help or advice from their colleagues.

Effective communication and trust-building

Teams that are able to communicate effectively and build trusting relationships among their members are more likely to achieve success. Good communication helps team members understand each other's strengths and weaknesses and ensures that everyone is on the same page. We accomplished all this by doing Quarterly Peer Coaching where rather than get coaching from me they were getting it from each other. I believe this one change did more to break down barriers between and strengthen their trust and reliance on each other.

Conclusion

Ubuntu and the power of teams is undeniable. The collaboration, diverse perspectives, division of labor, improved decision-making, effective communication, and trust-building that teams provide are all essential to achieving success. Whether you are on a sports team, working in a corporation, or collaborating on a creative project, it is important to recognize the value of teams and how they can contribute to achieving your goals and in the end "I am because we are."