One of the most difficult challenges faced by the corporate leaders is that they are now required to lead diverse teams. They need to develop a global mindset to be effective. Unlike before, now, they need to be multifaceted and keep abreast of the global happenings, political systems, be aware of the cultural values and customer behavior in different nations, and be able to develop a business relationship with people with varied cultures, religious beliefs, values and so on.
Leading a global team has its own set advantages- you can get an insight in to the uniqueness of a particular culture, while you will also be able to save costs by expanding. If you know how to get full potential out of your global team, you can reap millions, or should we say, you could save thousands by knowing exactly what not to do. For example, if you are planning to establish a food outlet in say, in parts of Asia, you need to understand the local tastes and preferences before the launch. If you have someone in your team who can guide you on this front, you can save millions.
With that said, you now need to shift from the traditional methods of working in an organization to novel methods, so as to accommodate the global team members. Developing a global mindset cannot be accomplished in a day. It is an ongoing process, which requires redesigning the organization’s structure, to accommodate the cultural differences of these teams. It is to be remembered that culture has a huge impact on how an individual reacts to a leadership. While Asians are more used to autocratic leadership style, a person from the United States and some parts of Europe are likely to enjoy autonomy while accomplishing tasks.
To take this point further, in some African cultures, managers may find organizational members to be family oriented, as in many cultures. Remembering the rule about putting employees’ needs first is key. Showing value for family and friends above all is important. Work is work, but employees must know they are valued and their values are important to managers. So, to score an edge with African team members, you need to share traits such as being charismatic, protective of the subordinates, concerned about their well being, modest and compassionate. If you can imbibe these values, you are sure to make positive points with your team, and be an effective leader. Similarly, if your team members belong to Caribbean and Latin American cultures, they too will also welcome a charismatic, protective leader. Most Asian culture employees look upon a leader with high regard, with almost paternal respect. So, they are comfortable with autocratic leadership.
Culture plays a pivotal role in upbringing of a person, his values, belief and so on. By understanding culture of a person, you also get an insight in to the behavior pattern, values, needs and desires of each individual employee. For example, if you send greetings to your subordinate on a local festival, you will be breaking the cross cultural barrier and are likely to garner greater support and improve productivity.Understanding these values will enable a global leader to tap full potential from his team. A side benefit is that it may also avoid any conflicts within the team and build strength, as well as a competitive advantage.
