Understanding, Developing and Supporting Desirable Workplace Behaviour and Careers

Successful business in Africa requires not only the traditional tools of strategy, structure and operational processes but a holistic understanding of the environment, the continent’s diversity and its intra-continental differences and an effective means of navigating it. The geography, economic, socio-economic factors, culture and values of Africa are tightly interwoven, and all impact workplace behaviours. However, unlike in the UK and the USA, there is a need for more published behavioural research in Africa, so mainstreamed western-based behavioural frameworks are applied with varying degrees of success. The author, who has worked, consulted, taught and coached executives in African workplaces for over 30 years, draws on her experience and research to highlight crucial issues and challenges affecting and influencing employee behaviour in Africa. She suggests adopting cultural humility when relying on western frameworks, setting aside preconceptions and seeking practical ways of working that may differ from perceived norms. She posits that employees must be regarded as key stakeholders in organisational success and suggests building cultural awareness, aligning employee and corporate organisational values and treating employees sensitively and inclusively. She shares a practitioner’s viewpoint, several African examples and useful insights that should enhance employers’ abilities to proffer culturally sensitive strategies for business success.