The essence of Ubuntu is ‘ I am what I am because of who we all are’.

Individuals are flawed and don’t really achieve much on their own. They achieve because of the support of others. Ubuntu in different guises is a philosophy that exists in many African countries. The name is slightly different. The concept the same. Look after visitors. Respect human life. Show empathy. Value dignity, compassion, humanness and respect.

We are part of a larger community. We have an obligation to contribute in proportion to our talent, resources, abilities. The community sustains us. We need to contribute in return. A workplace is a community in which this operates.

Christmas is a good time to acknowledge the support we receive from the entire community. Remember when we used to thank our postman, rubbish collectors, neighbours?

We recently had a call from a neighbour who noticed that we had left our garage door open overnight. They were concerned for our safety.

Nelson Mandela had this to say about Ubuntu….

‘A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, is not threatened by the success of others, bases their self assurance on knowing that they are part of a greater whole that is built with others are praised, and diminished when others are ridiculed or not treated with respect’.