Sawubona. I see you. Take the time to truly see your team.

Growing up in Zambia, one of my favorite things to do was build clubhouses in cool environments. These took the form of an underground cave dwelling, a treehouse, a fort like the one pictured and even a sophisticated little bamboo house under a mango tree. Once built, I wanted to share them with friends who would hang out in them with me. But I wanted my efforts to be respected so I posted rules on the wall, not unlike the core values (CoreVals) poster I helped develop at Lextech. Maybe it was a little controlling of me, but that experience foretold my life’s mission: To create environments where people thrive.

Posting the rules was part of creating a bond with my friends. We were special, part of an exclusive club. And those rules guided our interactions, creating a common experience and ensuring maximum fun for everyone. One of the rules I recall was simply, "be nice," and it still guides my interactions today.

Because of my childhood, I feel a great connection to the continent of Africa. So when I heard about the Zulu greeting, "Sawubona," I felt immediately drawn to it. It’s commonly used in South Africa and not just among the Zulu people. While generally used as a greeting, it literally translates to, “I see you.”

Think about what it means to greet someone in this way. When you truly see someone, and give full acknowledgment of their presence, you open up yourself. And by doing so, you receive a wholehearted recognition of the full person in front of you and what he or she brings to the world.

Will’s fort in Zambia.

It’s very different than the usual "hi," or rote "what's up," that we mutter when passing our colleagues in the office. Sawubona suggests a moment of actual connection, something that these typical greetings tend to lack. Even beyond a simple greeting, how often do we genuinely see each other in the workplace?

To realize the culture we wish to manifest, it helps to take a page from the Zulu playbook and take the time to fully acknowledge the people we work alongside each day. It’s a small thing that can make a big difference in elevating company culture. A greeting can be a chance to create a meaningful connection, if we use it that way. As a leader, when you see an employee who you haven’t seen in a while, take 60 seconds to offer them more than a quick “hello.” Make eye contact and take the time to be fully present.

I actually linger with my handshake. I'll often hold on a second longer and sometimes clasp their hand with my other hand as well. I think this helps me be present, and shows them that I want to see them and know them. Of course this slow, deliberate handshake will also help this individual notice your intention.

Next, ask a question about something that you have genuine curiosity about, like their kids or a shared interest. I love asking, “What are you working on?” But it’s not really about the question. The important thing is to stay focused and listen, to really hear the answer without getting distracted. Show that you’ve heard them by acknowledging their response and showing them that they’ve been heard.

This can all take place in a few seconds. It costs nothing and can have a huge impact on someone’s day. Apart from the individual effect, it goes a long way to creating a solid foundation for a great culture. As a leader, you’ll feel more in touch with your employees. Connection benefits everyone.

One common response to the "Sawubona" greeting is, "Yebo, sawubona." This response means, “I see you seeing me.” Think about how good it feels to see someone’s eyes light up when they feel acknowledged. These kinds of interactions leave people with the feeling that they’re working at the right place, and alongside people who care.

Bejan Douraghy, CEO of the staffing agency, Artisan Talent, created a company that considers seeing its employees as important as seeing its clients. When Bejan joined my podcast, he explained that empathy is a CoreVal of his company, that understanding and sharing what another person is feeling or going through is central to everything they do.  

Bejan sees empathy as a “differentiator” of how employees behave internally, how they treat the talent they source, and how they work with their clients. Creating a culture based on empathy has become so personal, he actually refers to himself as “Chief Empathy Officer.”

Of course, sales targets and KPIs are important, he says, but you’re unlikely to get there if you don’t create a culture that fosters more than just numbers. “If you have the right people in place, if you have the right culture in place, those numbers will follow."

“When I look back, why did I leave a company and start my own? It wasn’t a cultural fit for me,” he says. When Bejan created his business 30 years ago, he intuitively knew that he wanted to create a culture that recognized the person, built on the idea of Sawubona, “You really need that human element.”

I know that when I feel seen, I’m more likely to see you, and see the value that you bring to my day, my work and my life. In turn, I know that you appreciate my value and authenticity.

From the time I was a child in Zambia building forts for my friends, my major impetus has been inclusion. I have always had the desire and the need to include people. Ultimately this is what a corporate culture can do for a workplace. It’s not just about making the work environment more enriching, it’s also about making each and every individual that you lead feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves.

Will Scott is passionate about creating environments where people thrive to become the best they can be. Great corporate culture drives great performance and investing in culture yields the highest returns in terms of revenue growth and employee retention. Author of the forthcoming book, The Culture Fix: Solve C-Suite Problems at Ground Level with 9 Deeds in 90 Days, Will regularly holds workshops and speaking events on corporate culture and can help you transform yours in just three months. His two key workshops, Discerning Your Core Values and From Core Values to Valued Culture, are now accepting registration for attendees. Click here for more information. Look for his book this June!