Have you ever been on a team where everyone did their job perfectly, yet the results still didn’t quite come together?
It’s like everything’s in place, but something’s missing.
Many teams are great at coordinating, but real collaboration is what makes the difference.
And collaboration thrives on trust.
So how to build a successful team?
Let me introduce you to the African philosophy of Ubuntu: "I am, because we are."
It’s a powerful concept that can turn a group of individuals into a cohesive, winning team.
I first came across this idea when basketball coach Doc Rivers introduced Ubuntu to the Boston Celtics, leading them to an NBA Championship (watch the Playbook on Netflix. I loved it!)
Ubuntu teaches that individual greatness only matters when it contributes to the success of the whole team.
As Booker T. Washington once said, “If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else.”
That’s the heart of Ubuntu.
It’s not about "me"; it’s about "we."
When a team prioritizes trust, safety and collective success, they achieve more together than anyone could alone.
How do you build this kind of trust?
And build a successful team.
Here are three simple ideas how Visual Collaboration can build trust:
Encourage Shared Understanding: Use visuals like diagrams or sketches to make ideas clearer and ensure everyone’s on the same page. This reduces confusion and aligns the team.
Create a Safe Space: Let people express themselves visually. This makes it easier for quieter team members to share their thoughts, building trust and inclusion.
Promote Open Dialogue: When ideas are made visible, it encourages transparency and openness. Team members feel heard and understood, fostering trust.
Next time your team feels like it’s just going through the motions, ask yourself: What if we embraced Ubuntu and made success a shared journey?
Imagine what you could achieve together.
Cheers,
Loes
Marloes is a Visual Strategist and Founder of Linesbyloes Consultancy. With over 20 years of experience in design and consultancy, she guides organizations to lead, innovate, and navigate change through the power of visual thinking.
Her international experience in the Netherlands and Taiwan has shown her how visual thinking transcends language, and uses that insight to enable deeper connections and clear communication between leaders and teams in her work today.
Would you like to learn what Visual Thinking can do for your organisation?
Get in touch!
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