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Daniel Student and Dr. Cleveland Justis

Whether you are currently a manager or not, you should now be ready to learn to play a leadership role in a multinational team. Leadership is more than management, and culture greatly affects what is expected of leaders. For instance, some cultures expect their leaders to give directives; others expect them to facilitate so that everyone on the team has a chance for their voice to be heard. No matter which way they lean, you are likely to hear “that’s just the way it’s done” if you try to shake things up. Leadership requires adapting your style to build comfort from team members with different backgrounds than yours while also helping change the narrative for people who don’t want to adapt to your strengths. You need to help others find the levers to pull that work for them to adjust to a cross-cultural environment. As leaders you also need to be constantly learning to prepare for the inevitable changes of the future? By looking into the future, how will different cultures grow, and how will climate change and technology fundamentally alter the line between physical and virtual space. What will all this mean for multinational team leadership in the future?

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What's inside

Syllabus

Getting Started and What It Means To Lead
In this module, you will be able to define how leadership can show up on a team and distinguish between leadership and management. You'll be able to name acts of leadership that can have influence without any formal authority. You will also be able to identify when one should lead and when to follow and you will be able to recognize the different leadership styles.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops cross-cultural leadership skills for directing teams
Suitable for those currently in management as well as those aspiring to lead
Explores how globalization, technology, and climate change will impact multicultural teamwork
Lacks hands-on practice or interactive materials

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Reviews summary

Practical leadership for global teams

According to learners, this course offers incredibly insightful and directly applicable knowledge for managing diverse global teams, emphasizing practical tools and strategies. Students praise its well-structured, engaging content and the clear distinction between leadership and management. While highly beneficial for new or aspiring cross-cultural leaders, some experienced professionals found the foundational concepts lacked the depth for advanced insights. A few reviews mentioned that some video segments felt dated and suggested a need for more interactive case studies.
Course is well-organized with clear distinctions and delivery.
"The content was well-structured, easy to follow, and the instructor's delivery was superb."
"The distinction between leadership and management was clear and crucial."
"The materials were clear, and I particularly liked the discussion on identifying sub-cultures within a team."
Highly beneficial for new or aspiring cross-cultural leaders.
"It might be better for those new to international leadership."
"This course is a must for anyone aspiring to lead in a global context."
"Good introduction to cross-cultural leadership for those building foundational knowledge."
Offers actionable strategies for leading diverse global teams.
"This course was incredibly insightful and directly applicable to my role as a project manager in a global company."
"The instructor provided excellent examples and real-world scenarios. I appreciated the emphasis on practical tools and strategies."
"The emphasis on adaptability and creating decision-making norms was very helpful. I found the content very engaging and actionable."
Learners wished for more interactive exercises and case studies.
"The discussions were engaging, but I wished for more interactive case studies."
"I would have appreciated more case studies or interactive exercises to solidify the concepts."
"Good for foundational knowledge, but I would have liked more hands-on practice."
Some aspects, especially examples, could benefit from modernization.
"While the core concepts were well-explained, a few video segments felt a bit dated."
"It feels like the course hasn't been updated in a while. The examples sometimes seemed a bit out of touch with current global business practices."
"The theory is sound, but the practical relevance could be improved with fresh content."
Experienced leaders may find some concepts too foundational.
"As an experienced leader, I was hoping for more advanced strategies rather than foundational concepts."
"I found the course to be quite superficial... Much of the content felt like common sense or things I already knew from experience."
"It seems more suited for beginners. I was expecting more advanced and actionable insights."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Leadership in Multinational, Cross-Cultural Teams with these activities:
Refresh communication skills
Enhance communication abilities for effective leadership.
Browse courses on Communication
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  • Review basic communication principles
  • Practice active listening and empathy
  • Identify and address communication barriers
Learn about Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
Gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences and their impact on leadership.
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  • Research Hofstede's Cultural Dimensions
  • Identify the key dimensions
  • Apply these dimensions to real-world leadership scenarios
Review 'The Culture Map'
Identify cultural differences that may impact multinational teams.
Show steps
  • Read 'The Culture Map'
  • Identify key cultural dimensions
  • Reflect on how these dimensions impact leadership
Five other activities
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Role-play cultural scenarios
Practice applying cultural knowledge to real-world leadership situations.
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  • Identify potential cultural conflicts
  • Develop strategies to address these conflicts
  • Role-play these scenarios
Volunteer with organizations promoting cultural understanding
Gain practical experience and contribute to fostering cultural diversity.
Browse courses on Leadership
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  • Identify relevant organizations
  • Apply for volunteer opportunities
  • Actively participate in events and programs
Compile a resource list on cultural leadership
Gather and organize valuable resources to support learning and development.
Browse courses on Leadership
Show steps
  • Identify relevant sources
  • Annotate and categorize resources
  • Share the compilation with peers
Develop a training module on cultural sensitivity
Synthesize knowledge and develop resources to enhance understanding of cultural sensitivity.
Show steps
  • Identify key concepts of cultural sensitivity
  • Develop engaging and interactive content
  • Test the module and gather feedback
Mentor junior leaders on cultural aspects of leadership
Share knowledge and provide guidance to emerging leaders.
Browse courses on Leadership
Show steps
  • Identify potential mentees
  • Establish regular meetings
  • Share experiences and provide feedback

Career center

Learners who complete Leadership in Multinational, Cross-Cultural Teams will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Cultural Diversity Manager
A Cultural Diversity Manager develops and implements company-wide initiatives that promote diversity, inclusion, and equity. This course will aid in understanding how leadership can differ across cultures and how to adapt your style to build comfort and familiarity within those cultures.
Cross-Cultural Consultant
A Cross-Cultural Consultant is a professional trained to help companies, governments, and international organizations understand how culture influences business and social behavior. Through the examination of cultural expectations, power dynamics, and leadership styles, this course provides insight into the influences of culture.
Diversity and Inclusion Manager
A Diversity and Inclusion Manager creates and implements programs that promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This course will provide insight into how cultural expectations of leadership can impact diversity and inclusion, as well as providing strategies to create decision making norms for inclusive teams.
International Business Consultant
An International Business Consultant provides advice to companies on how to do business in other countries. This course will help build knowledge about how globalization, technology, economics, and environmental change can impact teamwork. It will also provide strategies for leading multinational, cross-cultural teams.
Diplomat
A Diplomat represents their country's interests and policies abroad. The ability to understand and adapt to different cultures is essential for diplomats. This course covers challenges that arise from cultural expectations of leadership, as well as how to become a leader for everyone.
International Project Manager
An International Project Manager plans and executes projects in other countries. This course will provide insight into the challenges that arise from cultural expectations of leadership. It will also help develop the skills needed to build comfort and familiarity within culturally diverse teams.
Global Business Development Manager
A Global Business Development Manager is responsible for developing and executing strategies to grow a company's international business. This course will help build comfort in leading multinational teams in cross-cultural settings. It will also provide insight into how to envision what a multinational cross-cultural team will look like in the next 20+ years.
Multinational Business Executive
A Multinational Business Executive leads a company's operations in multiple countries. This course will help develop the skills needed to lead multinational teams in cross-cultural settings. It will also provide insight into how to envision what a multinational cross-cultural team will look like in the next 20+ years.
Human Resources Manager
A Human Resources Manager is responsible for managing all aspects of human resources, including recruitment, employee relations, compensation, and benefits. This course will help develop the skills needed to lead a culturally diverse workforce. It will also cover how to create decision making norms and adapt your leadership style to different cultures.
International Development Specialist
An International Development Specialist works to improve the lives of people in developing countries. This course will help develop the skills needed to lead teams in culturally diverse settings. It will also cover how to anticipate how globalization, technology, economies, and environmental change can impact teamwork.
Anthropologist
An Anthropologist studies the behavior, origin, and development of humans. By understanding the cultural differences highlighted within this course, you will be able to better observe human behavior. Additionally, learning how to adapt your leadership style to different cultures will benefit your ability to conduct research.
Peace Corps Volunteer
A Peace Corps Volunteer works to improve the lives of people in developing countries. This course will help develop the skills needed to lead teams in culturally diverse settings. It will also cover how to anticipate how globalization, technology.
Social Worker
A Social Worker helps people overcome personal and social problems. This course will help develop the skills needed to lead teams in culturally diverse settings. It will also cover how to adapt your leadership style to different cultures and create decision making norms for inclusive teams.
Professor of International Relations
A Professor of International Relations teaches and researches about the political, economic, and social interactions between countries. This course will help build a foundation in understanding how culture and bias can affect our vision of a leader. It will also cover strategies for leading multinational, cross-cultural teams.
Intercultural Communication Specialist
An Intercultural Communication Specialist helps organizations and individuals communicate effectively across cultures. This course will help build a foundation in understanding how culture and bias can affect your vision of a leader. It will also cover strategies for leading towards the future for multinational, cross-cultural teams.

Reading list

We've selected 11 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Leadership in Multinational, Cross-Cultural Teams.
Erin Meyer's work valuable resource for understanding the cultural nuances and expectations of leadership across various cultures, providing practical guidance for navigating cross-cultural team dynamics.
Goleman's work on emotional intelligence provides a framework for understanding and managing emotions, which is crucial for effective leadership and navigating cultural diversity.
Kouzes and Posner's book classic in the field of leadership, providing practical frameworks and models for effective leadership, which can be applied to cross-cultural team contexts.
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Pink's research on motivation offers valuable insights into understanding and motivating diverse teams, fostering engagement, and creating a high-performing work environment.
Rumelt's book provides a framework for evaluating and developing effective strategies, which is essential for multinational teams operating in complex and dynamic environments.
Ries's book provides a practical approach to innovation and experimentation, which is valuable for multinational teams seeking to adapt and thrive in a dynamic global market.
Senge's work on learning organizations offers insights into creating a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, which is crucial for multinational teams operating in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Christensen's book provides insights into the challenges of leading innovation in established organizations, which is relevant to multinational teams operating in a rapidly changing global landscape.
Moore's classic work on marketing and selling technology products offers insights into the challenges of reaching a global audience and adapting products and services to different cultural markets.

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