Seeing is Leading

You may have heard about the Zulu tribe in South Africa who use a greeting, Sawubona, which translates to "I see you" or "We see you." This greeting acknowledges the presence and worth of the person being greeted. Wow. You had me at Sawubona.

One of the most powerful things a leader can do is really see the people they lead.

When you build awareness of others—what makes them tick, how they respond to challenges, what motivates or discourages them—you start unlocking your ability to lead in ways that are personal, human, and effective.

This isn’t just about being nice. It’s about building the kind of trust that makes a team resilient, honest, and able to grow together.

When you understand your team, you’re better equipped to handle what can be the messy parts of leadership—like conflict. Healthy conflict, the kind that sparks innovation and progress, only happens when there’s enough trust to speak honestly and enough understanding to listen well.

And let’s be real: giving and receiving feedback often feels like conflict and is rarely easy. But it gets easier—and way more meaningful—when it comes from a place of genuine care and clarity about who that person is.

That’s the heart of others-awareness. It's not about fixing people; it’s about learning them. And leading them well.

Want a simple place to start?

In your next one-on-one, ask a team member: “What’s something about how you work or think that you wish more people understood?”

Then just listen. No agenda. No fixing. Just learning.

It’s a small step toward bringing “Sawubona” to life—and it can help you build a team culture where people feel seen, valued, and empowered. And that’s the kind of leadership that lasts.