Insights
I–Thou in the workplace
2026-04-02 · 7 min read · philosophy · practice
Martin Buber’s philosophy is not soft idealism—it is a practical standard for how leaders meet people under pressure.
I–It treats people as means: roles, headcount, blockers. I–Thou meets the other as a full subject. Super-Cube® is philosophically grounded in that distinction.
In practice: name emotion before solving; credit contribution specifically; decide with moral risk visible; protect recovery so presence stays real.
African business networks under growth pressure are exactly where I–It shortcuts feel efficient—and where they destroy trust. Relational micro-practices are not extras; they are the transfer mechanism from course content to culture.