Global Leaders

I participate in the Center for Creative Leadership LinkedIn group. Recently the group has been discussing 'the main skills of a global leader [in 2020]'. Input to date includes -

• lead with passion across cultures and generations
• be measured by how many fans/followers you have on social networks
• implement social responsibility programs at a company and individual level
• empower employees by coaching them to set goals by themselves
• increase internal motivation by giving responsibilities and tasks that are intrinsically rewarding
• encourage employees to focus on one activity at a time
• provide direct and immediate feedback so behaviour can be adjusted
• foster entrepreneurship within their organizations
• think big and take risks
• display courage, trust and authority, authenticity and ethics
• focus on people
• willingness to keep on learning, and
• embrace technology.

As established or aspiring leaders you may know the question and discussion of leadership skills and attributes has been explored for decades by scholars, followers and leaders. As a representative of all those groups, I am concerned that the absence or desire to define and embrace a universally accepted definition will have us exploring this same question for decades . . . at the social, economic and development expense of many.

In this era of knowledge, connectivity and globalization, I’d have thought we would have an appetite to think holistically and define leadership in a global (organizational, institutional, cultural, universal) context. Defining leadership in a global context provides opportunity to measure, hold accountable and improve leadership results. In the absence or acceptance of a global or 21st century definition, followers and leaders find themselves lost, floundering, in chaos, seeking what's next or hanging onto whatever is available at the expense of individuals, organizations, institutions, communities and societies. See earlier posts or visit CCLs and ILAs websites for more information.

The Global Leadership and Organizational Behavioural Effectiveness (GLOBE) research project (House, et al 2004) looked at 62 cultures over a 10-year period to craft a definition of leadership as the ability of an individual to influence, motivate and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members (pg. 15). The report explores in depth: societal clusters, cultural dimensions, primary and global leadership dimensions. In my opinion, Grovewell a US-based consulting firm has done a good job of summarizing the GLOBE report.

I think today’s: leaders, followers, sponsors and supporters would desire, demand and even expect the acceptance and implementation of a global leadership definition. As already said, a definition provides way and means to measure and improve leaders and leadership to the benefit of many. The embracing and implementation of a definition requires the support of many stakeholders, e.g. educational institutes, organizations and professional associations, leaders and followers to name a few.

Henein and Morissette, authors of Made in Canada Leadership research indicate there is an appetite for a Made in Canada leadership brand. In future posts we will take a look at leadership in Canada. In the interim we pose the following questions -

Do you have an appetite, appreciation or desire for a global definition of leadership? Why? Why not?

How does your definition of leadership compare with the GLOBE’s definition?

Is there room in your nation or organization for a definition of leadership? Why? Why not?

Please post your comments to this blog or feel free to connect directly with Tim or myself. Tim and I are taking the month of August off, when we return in September we'll blog about Leadership in Canada and Leadership in Latin America. JOIN US.

Terresa Augustine LinkedIn

Links:
Centre for Creative Leadership: www.ccl.org
International Leadership Association: www.ila-net.org
Grovewell Global Leadership Solutions: www.grovewell.com


References:
Henein, A., Morissette F. (2007). Made in Canada leadership: Wisdom from the nation’s best and brightest on leadership practice and development. Mississauga, ON: John Wiley & Sons.
House, R. J., Hanges, P. J., Javidan, M., Dorfman, P. W., & Gupta, V. (2004). Culture, leadership and organizations: The GLOBE study of 62 societies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.