Mandela and Ubuntu Leadership

Today we bury one of the world's most important leaders of all time.  Let us not bury his ideals and call to action with him.  The time is now for the world to embrace the African Humanistic concept of Ubuntu.  Granted this concept exists in many forms with many different names and regardless of the proper name, I am asking that we all rally around it. In short, Ubuntu is about forgiveness. Forgiveness of self and others. True forgiveness.  True forgiveness for the purpose of uniting us all. Ubuntu is about recognizing that we are all interconnected.  If someone does something horrific to another, they not only hurt the victim, they hurt themselves and they ultimately hurt all those in the same energy spheres whether they be individual, family, team, neighborhood, community, culture, organization, country, and the world.  Ubuntu is about respect and dignity.  If we can adopt respect and dignity as our core guiding values of action, then we can eliminate so many of our global problems.  If we can use a compasionate lens through which to view situations, problems and issues; we can again eliminate so many of our global problems and we can devise humane solutions.  If we can think and act without borders, and recognize each other as brothers and sisters, then and only then will we be embracing humanity - a major tenet of Ubuntu. 

The time is now.  I wish I was not writing this on the day Mandela is being buried. I wish we had all heard and heeded his words before now.  But as long as we start.  As long as we start now.  As long as we start now and act BIG.  As long as we start now, act BIG, and with humanity; we will save ourselves from ourselves.  We have the guiding template --- now let us radically change out interactions, our education,  our organizations, and our politics.  Most of all, let us employ Ubuntu within and between governments.  In the name of Ubuntu, let us put down the swords and come together.  In the name of Ubuntu.  In the name of Nelson Mandela.  Let peace prevail through respect, compassion, dignity, and empathy. 

Ann Dinan

Head of North American Operations, Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative