Are You A Global Manager?
THE ABILITY to accept and deal with diversity and differences is not that someone is born with. And yet, it is the defining attribute of successful managers. Apart from the real need for people with a healthy attitude and skills when it comes to dealing with a diverse cross-section of people from varied backgrounds, those with attributes defining them as global leaders will, as a rule, be more tolerant and less exacting in their demands.
Success will come to them naturally, as will loyalty and trust. A few years back, global leaders were defined as an extraordinary class of people functioning at higher niches of organisations. Today, the middle manager level leaders are fast taking up the role and spreading the trend. Then, who is a global manager? What does he do? How does he do it differently? Let's find out.
Penchant for discovery and learning: The global manager is someone who is ready to learn. A person who clings to preconceived notions and stereotypes will run into communication troubles sooner or later.
The prospect of meeting new people and learning their ways is something that thrills the global manger.
Has a global perspective: The global manager can broaden his or her focus from local conditions to a global business perspective. He is capable of comparing and evaluating the required parameters when it comes to dealing with certain business issues in an alien cultural environment.
Cultural adaptability: The global manager is someone who recognises the potential of cultural synergies. This is what brings adaptability. This also brings in an understanding and respect for cultural sensitivities. He realises that differences are perceived on both the sides. Further, he also knows that overlooking petty differences is something that both the sides need to do.
Cross- cultural collaboration: The global manager can function as effectively in a multicultural environment. The reason being that he or she can focus on the positive results or implications of cross- cultural collaboration. Collaboration involves treating all the team members equally to get the maximal contribution from all. And the global manager knows how to do that amply.
Realistic expectations: The global manager knows that one could mess up in setting up expectations from employees belonging to a different cultural background. He understands that handling in-group differences is more important to increase the performance levels. In this backdrop, the global manager is wary of setting up his initial level of expectations.
Culture shock: The global manager welcomes an opportunity to go to a different country and get first hand experience of functioning in a culturally different environment. Culture shock need not be a negative experience for the global manager. The global manager with an inclination for perennial learning will inevitably develop a novel set of skills. He will learn the lessons that can be generalised across cultures.
Where on the one hand a global manager will not shun an overseas assignment, there, one need not necessarily leave one's country to get the skill set. With fruits of globalisation now spreading to services, there are enough opportunities around to develop the skills. The global manager exhibits traits that are positive in themselves and have a healthy undertone. He is open-minded and welcomes newness. He is someone who understands that `an obstinate man does not hold opinions; they hold him'.
DEEPSHIKHA MEHTA
faqs@cnkonline.com
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