CROSS-CULTURAL

LEADERSHIP
• This form of leadership normally exists where there are
various cultures in the society. This leadership has also
industrialized as a way to recognize front-runners who work in
the contemporary globalized market.
• Organizations, particularly international ones,
require leaders who can effectively adjust their
leadership to work in different environs.

• Today’s international organizations require leaders

who can adjust to different environments quickly
and work with partners and employees of other
cultures. It cannot be assumed that a manager
who is successful in one country will be successful
in another.
SIX PRINCIPLES OF CROSS-CULTURAL
LEADERSHIP
• Get to know your people (CARE)
• Communicate in their language (COMMUNICATION)
• Be self-aware (SELF-AWARENESS)
• Respect cultural differences (CONTRAST)
• Understand the context (CONTEXT)
• Embrace change (CHANGE)
GET TO KNOW YOUR PEOPLE

• Successful global leaders show that they care

• Learn about their needs, values, ethics, interests, and morals
• Get to know key stakeholders well
• Approach people with empathy, sensitivity, honesty, and
curiosity
COMMUNICATE IN THEIR LANGUAGE

• Interact and engage with cultures

• Show them you’re interested in who they are
• Learn the main language of the people that you work with
• Even learning a few key phrases will show your interest
BE SELF-AWARE

• Know yourself well and manage your emotions

• Ensure that your behavior doesn’t affect people negatively
• Identify your strengths and weaknesses
• You also need to be flexible
RESPECT CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

• Be flexible in how you motivate and lead people

• People will see things through a different lens from yours
• Their values and beliefs affect their perspective
UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

• Refers to the surrounding circumstances that define a

situation
• Usually when you’re working in a different culture
• Understand the context before you make a judgment or a
decision
EMBRACE CHANGE

• Doesn’t apply to how you manage change with others, but

how you deal with it yourself
• Remain agile and open to the unknown
• Actively embrace the changes that you’re experiencing