The impact of Ubuntu leadership on salespeople’s self-efficacy in South Africa

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of Ubuntu leadership on employee self-efficacy among sales professionals in South Africa. Drawing on validated scales for Ubuntu (Mutsonziwa, 2020; Ngcobo, 2018) and general self-efficacy (Bandura, 2006), the research utilises a quantitative design to test the extent to which collectivism, empathy, and community-building, core Ubuntu principles, influence confidence in sales performance. Major findings reveal Ubuntu leadership predicts self-efficacy outcomes with statistical and practical significance (β: 0.43–0.52, p<0.01), mirroring recent evidence in the South African context (Chetty & Price, 2024). These results provide actionable guidance for embracing culturally resonant leadership frameworks to enhance organisational effectiveness and resilience in dynamic, diverse workforces.