4.9: Leadership Styles and Traits In Cross Cultural Settings

Question 1

Identify the 7 leadership traits needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 1

• skilled communicator
• socially aware
• skilled decision maker
• future thinker
• self-discipline
• responsible
• motivational

Question 2

Explain “skilled communicator” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 2

( how )
- this trait enables a leader to effectively encode messages that transcend language and cultural barriers
- the communication itself has to be incredibly nuanced in that it adheres to the cultural norms of people who receive the message
- as well as adhering to cultural norms, the message itself must be clear enough for the message to be understood
( why )
- effective communication between different cultures breaks down barriers and reduces uncertainty
- gets employees to participate in change and promote a firm vision confidently

Question 3

Explain “socially aware” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 3

( how )
- cultures are socially constructed so an effective leader must understand the social dynamics of a particular type of culture if they are to be able to be accepted within various cultural groups, such as ethnic cultures and popular sub-cultures
( why )
- a leader who understands the way relationships are formed and maintained can help to create a positive and effective workplace
- critical in improving quality of relationships within cross-cultural settings

Question 4

Explain “skilled decision maker” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 4

( how )
- when someone makes a decision, they take action from a series of options
- they assume the implications of each decision and follow a well-thought-out and reasonable rationale as to the decision itself, despite any inherent risk
- this rationale must be in tune with what is happening on a cultural level within an organisation because the way in which a decision is made can be the result of one’s own cultural values
( why )
- allows them to make decisions that have balanced outcomes, which is important for cross-cultural settings

Question 5

Explain “future thinker” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 5

( how )
- a leader who is a future thinker is someone who is able to anticipate, predict and imagine opportunities and challenges
- they can do this by investigating trends and
using their intuition to uncover potential areas of business growth
- thinking about the future can be something that transcends cultural boundaries, however, there may also be variations on the level of importance different cultures place on the future.
( why )
- future thinking can also enable a leader to establish shared visions among fellow staff
- future thinking can be the catalyst for motivation in the workplace

Question 6

Explain “self-discipline” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 6

( how )
- this refers to being able to control yourself in terms of how you feel and act in particular situations, especially ones in which there is a temptation to do (or not to do)
something else
- in a cross-cultural setting this could mean being able to keep your emotions under control, especially if there is some sort of miscommunication or misunderstanding between people from different cultures
- as a leader, it could also mean being able to stand outside your cultural comfort zone and be able to make a
determined effort to apply and embrace cultural norms
( why )
- helps unity and direct a diverse workforce
- critical in improving quality of relationships within cross-cultural settings

Question 7

Explain “responsible” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 7

( how )
- the ability to be independent, accountable, accept authority and be more aware that actions have consequences
- in a new cross-cultural setting there is a need to understand pre-established ideas, to understand where adaptation or new ideas are required, to demonstrate they can think for themselves, often seeing new perspectives, real purpose and outcomes
( why )
- tend to result in high degrees of trust from stakeholders
- crucial to an equitable and indiscriminate workforce

Question 8

Explain “motivational” as a leadership trait needed in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 8

( how )
- the ability to use psychological forces/motivate people to strive for certain goals rather than simply act on orders
- leaders need to be aware in a new cross-cultural
setting to provide motivation, direction and support for staff while recognising differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivations, rewards and punishments in different
cultural settings
( why )
- results in a multiplier (boost) throughout the firm’s workforce
- cross-cultural business ventures can be intimidating and challenging. A motivational leader helps the firm overcome these concerns and promote productivity

Question 9

Identify the 3 leadership styles that can be adapted in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 9

• autocratic
• participative
• situational

Question 10

Explain the utilisation of an autocratic leadership style in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 10

( how )
- autocratic leadership is a management style where one person controls all the decisions and takes very little input from other group members
- autocratic leaders make choices or decisions based on their own beliefs and do not involve others in their suggestions or advice
- autocratic leaders clearly articulate, display and enforce a firm’s vision and objective which helps new workers from different backgrounds and cultures coherently understand the firm.
( why )
- this leadership style allows for quick decision-making, a clear chain of command and works well where strong, directive leadership is required
- despite this, it also can discourage group input, hurt employee morale and can ignore creative expertise and solutions (not needed for why)

Question 11

Explain the utilisation of a participative leadership style in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 11

( how )
- invites input from employees on company decisions
- staff is given pertinent information regarding company issues, and a majority vote determines the course of action the company will take (although management has the final say)
( why )
- this leadership style allows for increased job satisfaction, a sense of empowerment, mutual trust between workers and management and increased productivity
- despite this, it can also lead to leaders becoming dependent on the expertise of subordinates, time consumed from collaboration and a lack of fast, incisive decisions (not needed for why)

Question 12

Explain the utilisation of a situational leadership style in a cross-cultural setting

Answer 12

( how )
- refers to when the leader or manager adjusts their style to fit the development level of the followers they are trying to influence
- can be flexible in adapting to changing cultural circumstances
( why )
- this leadership style allows for flexibility in meeting the demands of employees/customers, is able to tailor to specific needs and act swiftly in times of crisis
- although of this, it can also lead to behavioural inconsistencies, fear and uncertainty and can divert the leader’s focus away from the long-term (not needed for why)