"How does a leader prepare to work in a global
organization and how can they build upon their global competence and knowledge?"
This blog will feature questions (ranging from leadership and diversity to culture-specific communication, global team-building, and the nuances of business and social protocol in different countries and cultures) raised by working, adult students in higher education. You are invited to share your insights and perspectives based on your own personal work experiences. See "Welcome . . . more about this blog" for additional information about the blog's history and purpose.
Traveling abroad and personally connecting with new people is a terrific way to gain basic competence. Asking about their culture and history, spending time with them in their own environment, and asking a ton of questions. Finding a mentor or being a mentor with someone from a different background could open some new doorways as well. And of course, performing a lot of due diligence around the organization outside of your own world.
ReplyDeleteGreat suggestions. I would have to agree here that personally connecting with people in their own culture. Go out to dinner, get to know them and their team. Get to know the area and history of the place you are at. Ask questions, and listen.
DeleteI agree. Traveling abroad and taking every opportunity to immerse yourself in various cultures where you live is a good idea. IT creates compassion, and a celebration of how wonderful diverse cultures are, and this will help you thrive as a professional in being able to be more adaptive in understanding people different from yourself.
DeleteMark has made a lot of good suggestions, and I would also suggest that if you do not have the opportunity or ability to travel abroad in order to learn about a specific culture, there are plenty of cultural-specific centers in many cities. Through personal experience, I have found that cultural centers are a great way to learn about another heritage. Also, look within your own organization to help build your global competence and knowledge. There are very few companies that are still homogeneous, so it is probably very safe to assume that your organization has a wealth of untapped resources (i.e. people) to learn from.
ReplyDeleteAs outlined in another post, the SCOPE model takes step-by-step action to explain the five dimensions that help a leader build on his/her global competence and knowledge. In order to prepare to work in a global context, a leader must be open to resolving cultural differences before they can hope to be resolved. This model goes on to systematically list the steps toward building on their global competencies. Similarly, in the Next Generation Dimensions of Global Leadership Model, there are several competencies that encourage successful leadership. Throughout this process, the leader needs to be sincere in his/her intent to stimulate the growth and development of his leadership skills as well as the growth of the organization.
ReplyDeleteI think one of the easier ways to prepare for work in a global organization is to first become familiar and knowledgeable about the diverse peoples and cultures that you will be interacting and collaborating with. To be successful, one must be able to communicate with others and achieve a universal understanding throughout. Implementing the Adaptation Strategies of Due Diligence, Mind-Shifting, Cultural Dialogue, and Cultural Mentoring will aid in preparation for that leader. They can build through exploration and cultural curiosity to achieve global competence and knowledge.
ReplyDelete(391-16SP08) I agree with both Robyn/Mark, it is all about due diligence and understanding the culture. Personally, I love the different cultures that exist. I usually tend to research and understand the different cultures. In fact, I would also implement the SCOPE model which directs you to understanding the global competence and knowledge.
ReplyDeleteI think a leader has to be a visionary, and part of being a visionary is constantly learning, growing, and being inspired by literature, information, technology, and new theories of practice in the industry you work in. This requires due diligence to be an expert in your craft, and to continue to take workshops, continuing education, attend conferences, and read new online information.
ReplyDeleteKnowing your industry is also an invaluable tool. Knowledge again empowers, and prepares you to understand what is happening internally and externally in your organization, the industry, and the world.
Lastly, keeping current with cultural trends and norms, political, and social climates of your existing business operations and emerging markets.
Furthermore, focusing on your self awareness, being flexible, transparent, and open to learning new things really gives you an edge. To be a coral sponge absorbing as much as you can, and developing a reputation as such.
Mostly, importantly I have found if you really focus on listening, learning, and emotional intelligence you can also navigate the global organization both domestically and internationally.
I have found, that if you focus on similarities instead of differences as I have recently learned, then you can connect and build from there. At the end of the day, people are people and we all still operate from a basic Maslow hierachy of needs.
So after you have done your due diligence about the company you work for, your industry and competitors, and the culture and country you are going to you will have learned alto combined with using case studies from HBR that have been helpful to me.
It seems to be all about doing your research first. Completing your due diligence and understanding how my own COI will play a key role in working with different groups across cultures. You can immerse yourself in that culture by simply being a part of it and asking questions.
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