LA FRANCE PEUT-ELLE SE RELEVER SANS SON PEUPLE ? Regards croisés sur une nation en quête de sens

Par Sénamé Agbossou En observant les troubles sociaux qui secouent la France depuis plusieurs années – des Gilets jaunes aux blocages des agriculteurs, jusqu'aux appels à « Bloquer tout » –, je ne peux m'empêcher de me demander : s'agit-il vraiment d'une simple crise politique, ou assistons-nous à quelque chose de plus profond ? Une fracture qui touche au cœur même de notre conception de la communauté, de l'appartenance et du projet commun ? Porteur de la double nationalité, togolaise et française, et fort de décennies d'expérience professionnelle entre l'Europe et l'Afrique, je perçois les difficultés actuelles de la France à travers un prisme singulier. C'est celui de l'Ubuntu, cette philosophie africaine qui nous rappelle que « Je suis parce que nous sommes ». À travers mon travail avec Obuntuo, je me suis donné pour mission de rendre ce principe opérationnel au sein des équipes, des institutions et de la vie citoyenne. Ce que je vois en France aujourd'hui, ce n'est pas seulement un échec du politique. C'est un échec de la relation. Et l'Ubuntu a beaucoup à nous apprendre sur ce qui nous manque et sur la manière de retrouver notre chemin. Ce que l'Ubuntu révèle de la fracture française Lorsque l'on applique la sagesse de l'Ubuntu à la crise française, six manques criants apparaissent :  1. Le déficit de dignité L'Ubuntu part d'une vérité fondamentale : la valeur de chaque personne est inconditionnelle, surtout celle de nos opposants. Mais regardons le climat politique français actuel. Le mouvement « Bloquons tout » a été précédé de symboles profondément dégradants, comme ces têtes de porc déposées près de lieux de culte et portant le nom du président. Ce n'est pas seulement de la mauvaise politique ; c'est une corrosion du socle même qui rend possible le débat démocratique. L'Ubuntu nous enseigne une chose que nous semblons avoir oubliée : la dignité perdue en amont engendre le désordre en aval. Lorsque nous cessons de voir nos adversaires comme des êtres humains méritant le respect, nous empoisonnons le puits de la résolution collective avant même d'avoir commencé. 2. Le déni d'interdépendance Face à une Assemblée nationale sans majorité absolue, la réalité mathématique est claire : aucun camp ne peut gouverner seul. La légitimité doit être co-créée, et non confisquée. Pourtant, notre culture politique continue de fonctionner comme si un camp pouvait l'emporter totalement, tandis que les autres disparaîtraient dans l'insignifiance. La valse des gouvernements et le défilé des Premiers ministres démissionnaires illustrent ce qui arrive lorsque l'on nie l'interdépendance au lieu de l'organiser. L'Ubuntu nous rappelle qu'un pouvoir durable est un pouvoir partagé, non par angélisme moral, mais par pur pragmatisme. 3. Le vide participatif Les politiques publiques ne vivent pas dans les salles de réunion ; elles atterrissent dans des vies réelles. Celles des agriculteurs étranglés par de nouvelles réglementations, des infirmières à bout de souffle dans des hôpitaux en sous-effectif, des étudiants face à un avenir incertain ou des petits entrepreneurs perdus dans une bureaucratie inextricable. Lorsque ceux qui portent…

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CAN FRANCE RISE AGAIN WITHOUT ITS PEOPLE? A Radical Vision for Overcoming the Crisis

By Sénamé Agbossou Watching the social unrest unfold across France over recent years (from the yellow vest protests to the farmers' roadblocks, culminating in movements like Bloquons tout), I find myself asking: Is this truly just a political crisis, or are we witnessing something deeper? Something that cuts to the heart of how we understand community, belonging, and shared purpose? As someone who carries both Togolese and French nationality, with decades of professional experience spanning Europe and Africa, I see France's current struggles through a unique lens. It's the lens of Ubuntu; the African philosophy that reminds us "I am because we are," and through my work with Obuntuo, I've dedicated myself to making this principle operational in teams, institutions, and civic life. What I see in France today isn't just a failure of politics. It's a failure of relationship. And Ubuntu has much to teach us about what's missing, and how to find our way back. What Ubuntu Reveals About France's Disconnect When we apply Ubuntu's wisdom to France's current crisis, six critical gaps become crystal clear: 1. The Dignity Deficit Ubuntu begins with a fundamental truth: every person's worth matters; especially those who oppose us. But look at France's current political temperature. The lead-up to Bloquons tout has already produced deeply degrading symbols like pig heads dumped near places of worship bearing the president's name. This isn't just bad politics; it's a corrosion of the very foundation that makes democratic conversation possible. Here's what Ubuntu knows that we seem to have forgotten: dignity lost upstream becomes disorder downstream. When we stop seeing our opponents as fellow humans deserving of respect, we poison the well of collective problem-solving before we even begin. 2. The Interdependence Illusion In a hung Assembly, mathematical reality is clear: no single side can govern alone. Legitimacy must be co-created, not seized. Yet our political culture continues to operate as if one camp could "win" completely and the others simply vanish into irrelevance. The revolving door of governments and the parade of fresh Prime Minister resignations tells the story of what happens when we deny interdependence rather than design for it. Ubuntu reminds us that sustainable power is shared power, not because it's morally nice, but because it actually works. 3. The Participation Vacuum Policies don't exist in boardrooms; they land on real lives. Farmers feeling the pinch of new regulations. Nurses stretched thin in understaffed hospitals. Students facing uncertain futures. Small business owners navigating impossible bureaucracy. When the people who carry the true cost of policy feel unheard in its creation, they organize their own megaphone. The farmers' roadblocks of 2024-25 weren't really about diesel taxes; they were a demand to be co-authors of their own story, not merely objects of someone else's policy experiments. 4. The Reciprocity Gap Ubuntu teaches us that budgets are social covenants, not just spreadsheets. When austerity measures are presented without visible protections, without clear evidence of shared sacrifice, citizens read it as punishment, not partnership. This explains the…

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1,000+ Leaders Have Discovered Their Work Energy Type This Week

By Sénamé Agbossou The Data is Telling a Remarkable Story When I launched the Work Energy Types Assessment three weeks ago, I hoped it would help a few dozen leaders understand their natural work patterns better. I never expected what's happened instead. As of this morning, over 1,000 leaders from 23 countries have discovered their Work Energy Type. The data emerging from their responses is revealing patterns about modern leadership that I think every executive needs to understand. Today, I want to share what we're learning, because these insights aren't just interesting, they're actionable. The Global Energy Audit Here's what 1,000+ leaders are telling us about how they naturally work: 32% are Builders - People energized by creating systems and turning ideas into lasting reality. They're the backbone of execution in organizations worldwide. 24% are Drivers - Results-oriented leaders who thrive on momentum and achievement. They're the engines of organizational progress. 19% are Connectors - Relationship-focused leaders who bring teams together and create collaborative energy. They're the social fabric that makes everything else possible. 15% are Sensemakers - Strategic thinkers who provide clarity and long-term perspective. They're the navigation system for complex decisions. 10% are Explorers - Innovation-driven leaders who thrive on discovery and breakthrough thinking. They're the scouts for future opportunities. But here's the most striking finding: 74% report being energy misaligned in their current role. The Energy Misalignment Crisis The data reveals something profound about modern work: we're systematically placing people in roles that work against their natural energy patterns. The Builder's Dilemma Maria, a Builder from Barcelona, wrote: "I'm in an 'innovation strategy' role, but what energizes me is creating the systems that make innovation sustainable. I spend my days brainstorming when I want to be building." The Explorer's Trap David from Dublin shared: "I'm an Explorer managing a team that needs steady execution. I feel guilty for being bored by operational excellence, but the assessment helped me realize I'm not lazy, I’m just wired for discovery, not maintenance." The Driver's Bottleneck Elena from Amsterdam discovered: "I'm a Driver leading a team that needs more collaborative decision-making. I was frustrated that they couldn't match my pace, but I learned they weren't slow; they just needed different energy to do their best work." The Ubuntu Revelation What's most exciting isn't the individual discoveries. It’s what happens when teams take the assessment together. Alex, who leads a software team in Nairobi, had his entire department complete the assessment. Here's what they discovered: "We had three Builders, two Connectors, one Driver, and one Sensemaker. We'd been trying to work like a startup: fast, flexible, constantly pivoting. But most of our team was energized by stability and systematic progress, not rapid change." They restructured their work to play to their collective energy: longer development cycles with clear milestones, regular team connection points, and strategic review sessions where their Sensemaker could contribute perspective. The result? Their next product release was delivered two weeks early with 40% fewer bugs than their previous launch.…

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The Responses to the Work Energy Quiz Have Been Incredible

What 500+ Leaders Are Teaching Us About Energy Alignment Three weeks ago, I launched the Work Energy Types Assessment, and the response has been beyond anything I expected. Over 500 leaders from across Europe and beyond have discovered their Work Energy Type, and the insights emerging from their results are reshaping how I think about leadership development and team effectiveness. Today, I want to share what we're learning, and why these discoveries matter for every leader navigating today's complex work environment. The Surprising Patterns Discovery #1: Most Leaders Are Energy Misaligned 68% of assessment takers reported that their current role requires them to operate outside their primary energy type for more than half their time. Edith, a COO from London, captured this perfectly: "I took the quiz and discovered I'm a Connector, but 80% of my role is pure execution and problem-solving. No wonder I feel drained even though I love the company." This isn't about being in the wrong job, it’s about understanding how to structure your role to maximize your natural energy while still meeting organizational needs. Discovery #2: The Ubuntu Effect is Real Teams that take the assessment together report immediate improvements in collaboration. When everyone understands not just their own energy type but their colleagues' types as well, friction decreases and productivity increases. James, who leads a product team in Berlin, shared: "We had one Explorer, two Builders, one Connector, and one Sensemaker. Before the assessment, our Explorer felt stifled and our Sensemaker felt rushed. Now we structure our sprints to include innovation time for the Explorer and strategic review time for the Sensemaker. Our output has increased 30% because everyone's contributing from their energy zone." Discovery #3: Context Changes Everything Several leaders discovered that their energy type manifests differently in different contexts. Maria, a startup founder from Brussels, explained: "I'm a Driver when it comes to business development, but I'm definitely a Sensemaker when it comes to product strategy. Understanding this helps me structure my days better." This reinforces the Ubuntu principle that our energy doesn't exist in isolation—it flows in relationship with our environment, our colleagues, and our purpose. The Most Powerful Insights "I Finally Understand Why Certain Projects Drain Me" Alex, a marketing director, discovered he was a primary Connector with Explorer tendencies. "I always thought I was bad at execution-heavy work. Turns out, I just need more collaboration and creative variety built into the execution phase." "My Team Makes So Much More Sense Now" Roxane, the Driver leader we featured in a previous post, had her entire team take the assessment. "I was trying to manage everyone like they were Drivers. Once I understood that Rebecca is a Sensemaker who needs processing time, and David is a Builder who needs clear systems, everything changed. I'm still driving results, but now I'm doing it in a way that brings out everyone's best energy." "I Stopped Trying to Fix My 'Weaknesses'" Raphael, our Sensemaker from last week's post, shared: "For years, I tried to…

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Something I’ve Created to Help You Discover Your Work Energy Type

By Sénamé Agbossou "After Hundreds of Requests for an Assessment..." The messages started coming after my third post in this series. "How do I know which Work Energy Type I am?" "Can you create a quiz to help me figure this out?" "I see myself in multiple types—how do I know my primary pattern?" After 25 years of coaching leaders, I know that self-awareness without practical application is just interesting information. You need to know not only who you are, but how to leverage that knowledge for better results and deeper satisfaction in your work. That's why I've spent the last six months developing something special. The Work Energy Types Assessment Today, I'm excited to share the Work Energy Types Assessment: a focused, research-based tool that helps you identify your primary energy pattern and understand how to align your work with your natural wiring. This isn't another lengthy personality test that gives you complex results you'll never use. It's a practical assessment designed to give you immediate insights you can apply to your current role, team dynamics, and career decisions. Why This Assessment is Different Most leadership assessments tell you what you already know about yourself or categorize you in ways that feel limiting. The Work Energy Types Assessment is built on the Ubuntu principle that your individual energy becomes most powerful when it's in service of collective success. Here's what makes it unique: 1. It's Action-Oriented Every result comes with specific strategies for optimizing your energy, improving your team relationships, and aligning your role with your natural patterns. 2. It's Relationship-Focused Your assessment results include guidance on how to work effectively with other energy types, because the Ubuntu philosophy reminds us that our individual gifts are only fully realized in relationship with others. 3. It's Immediately Practical No complex theory or academic jargon. Just clear insights about how you naturally work best and what you can do about it starting today. What You'll Discover The assessment takes just five minutes, but the insights last a career. You'll learn: Your Primary Work Energy Type - Explorer, Builder, Connector, Driver, or Sensemaker, and what this means for your daily work experience. Your Natural Strengths - The specific ways you add value that you might be taking for granted. Your Energy Sources - What types of work, environments, and challenges naturally energize you versus drain you. Your Growth Edge - The one thing that, if you focused on it, would most amplify your natural gifts. Your Team Dynamics Guide - How to work more effectively with people whose energy types complement yours. Arsène's Discovery Let me share what happened when Arsène, a marketing director at a Brussels-based startup, took the assessment. Arsène had been struggling with what he thought was burnout. Despite loving marketing strategy, he felt drained by his role and couldn't understand why. His performance was strong, his team respected him, but he felt like he was working against his natural grain. The assessment revealed that Arsène was a primary…

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