The Calabash of Service: Recent Episodes
Shamiso Nyajeka
The need for income, flexibility and freedom that come with being one's own boss are some of the reasons driving people to start their own business today. It's therefore no surprise that competition for customers is also becoming more aggressive. How then do you gain competitive advantage without necessarily cutting into profits - exceptional service! As the calabash plant crossed the oceans from Africa to the rest of the world centuries ago, African values and Ubuntu also provide invaluable lessons that can be harnessed for service excellence. Each week Shami brings these into perspective
Is Ubuntu still relevant in today's society and more importantly can it be of any use to a modern African business?
African folktale has been in existence for centuries. It's an important part of African society, bearing invaluable cultural and Ubuntu lessons. This episode looks at one of the main characters in many African folktales, Kalulu, Tsuro Magen'a - The hare. Listen to find out how your business can learn a couple of lessons from this witty trickster!
The pride of being African,holding onto the great traits of Ubuntu even in business; could be just what you need to gain a competitive edge.
"If you talk to a man in a language that he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." These are the famous words of Nelson Mandela. Find out how talking to your customers in their mother tongue can help improve your business
This self-titled episode brings into perspective the concept behind the podcast- The calabash of service.
2020 has been an unprecedented year yet experiences across the globe provide important lessons that resonate with ubuntu.
Although I was raised in the city, I had the privilege of experiencing rural life in my home village at least once a year. Reflecting on my experiences then, I realise the invaluable lessons from some of the daily practices of that time. Perhaps we could draw some lessons from such experiences and harness them to make the world a better place.
This episode coincides with customer service week celebrations and draws important lessons from a traditional practice from Zimbabwe