“It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.”
This is one of my favourite quotes from Nelson Mandela and since it’s Mandela Day today (18 July), I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the values that Nelson Mandela lived by – values that we try to instil at Content Lab.
The first of these is diversity. We cultivate an inclusive and tribal company culture, which has become a large part of what makes our facility such a vibrant, happy and warm place. Not only are we a diverse bunch of people, from all cultures, religions and walks of life, we also have a diverse base of experience to draw from, and it’s this that makes us able to tackle any localisation project with confidence.
The other great Madiba value that we cultivate here at Content Lab is forgiveness. Nobody is infallible, but how we treat one another when a ball has been dropped makes all the difference to the outcome. We support one another, treat one another with compassion and respect and do what we can to lift one another up even – and especially – when the going gets tough.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
Another favourite quote of mine. Localisation is not easy. It requires dedication, skill and tenacity. When we are tasked with a project, there are parts of the project that at first seem impossible. But we never let “difficult” stand in our way and when faced with a challenge, we embrace it and get excited by the prospect of finding a solution.
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
We really do consider every member of the team to be a superstar in their own right, and the quote above really resonates with me for this reason. When someone does exceptionally well, it encourages others to do the same – not because they’re in competition with one another, but because the bar is automatically raised for all. That said, there is never a fear at Content Lab of one team member outshining the rest. We are all champions for each other and really believe that the strength of our tribe is in each individual member, and that in each team member lies the strength of an effective team.
This Mandela Day, why not give some thought to which of Madiba’s values you live and work by? Which can you incorporate into your own life, or into the culture of your own team?
