On occasion, as we all do, Hubert Makwanda, the president of Concilium Capital Humain, reaches his limit. His change in health is a good indicator of when that time has come. He often decompresses by putting on his gardening gloves.

He happily spends time with his hands in the earth, planting perennials or shrubs. “Sometimes, I think a plant is dead and a few years later, much to my surprise, it will flower again.”

Much like in a business, those in charge sometimes think certain individuals no longer serve their purpose. The origin of this problem, according to Makwanda, occasionally lies with the gardener. “When you do not know how to use a plant, it is easy to say that it is no longer good or useful.”

Investing and believing in the potential of people takes time. “The challenge is to continue to believe in people, in their power of transformation, when we live in a fast-paced and complex world.”

In the workplace, Makwanda is often a confidant for his employees. “Many lose faith in the organization. All they see is a place where they go and make a salary. In losing their faith, they lose what is at the heart—or the essence—of their work because they do not have sufficient trust in the intelligence of their collaborators.”

This explains the importance of making a space for discussion and communication. These moments of dialogue help individuals understand the motivations behind their decisions and the reasons they are part of an organization.

A Witness of Suffering
For the past 15 years, the president of Concilium Capital Humain has met with staff and business leaders from different backgrounds. His observations are alarming. “I’ve discovered that our organizations are becoming sicker and sicker, that we are hiding it and that we are ashamed.”

He says he has often seen companies suffer in silence. “It is taboo to show vulnerability associated with losing the point of one’s work,” Makwanda explains. “These people feel powerless, as though they are an aging or injured racehorse that no longer contributes to the victory of the jockey. We are in a performance society that no longer tolerates vulnerability.”

The Role of the Leader
It would be advantageous for the head of a company to be authentic on a human level because vulnerability, according to Makwanda, has its place in the workplace. “If a leader embraces their own vulnerability and allows it within their organization, the company becomes more human and paradoxically more successful,” Makwanda explains. In other words, the collective success becomes the motor for sustainable productivity. “If a team player is injured, the race can continue because they know they will benefit from the support of others.”