Re-Appropriating the Ubuntu Leadership Style

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to introduce a style of leadership that could be adopted by African managers and leaders to improve their individual performance. An African endogenous leadership style could be founded on the Ubuntu philosophy “Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu”, which means “a person is a person through other persons” (Mbiti, 1989, as cited in Mfuniselwa, n.d.; Nkomo, 2006) in the Xhosa or Nguni languages. The study shows that the determinants of the Ubuntu leadership style would influence a team and an organisation in the following ways: (i) creating an Ubuntu spirit in a team, (ii) creating an organisation with a “human side” and (iii) making an organisation spiritually sensitive. The following determinants of the African Ubuntu leadership effectiveness have been defined: personality of the leader, human relationships, reproduction of leaders, transformation of the organisation, training of leaders, coaching and mentoring. The practical application of the African Ubuntu leadership style would start within the family or community, - considered as the smallest unit of society, - or in a team, - considered as the smallest unit of an organisation. In some extent, the African Ubuntu leadership style could be taught in organisational leadership courses in academic institutions or professional training institutes.

Keywords: African Mind, Ubuntu Philosophy, Leadership Style, Delphi Method, Team

View PDF