The Impact of Global Economy upon Leadership

• Author: Gabriela Mironov Duret
• Position: Danubius University of Galati, Faculty of Law
• Pages: 478-483

The Impact of Global Economy upon Leadership

Mironov Duret Gabriela

Danubius University of Galati, Faculty of Law, gabriela.duret@univ-danubius.ro

Abstract: Due to the reason of the more pronounced globalization of the business world, we can no

longer ignore the powerful cultural side of leadership. In other words, there are differences between

leading s tyles considered as accepted by a national culture or another. For example, I c ome from

Netherlands – in Dutch, the word meaning leader is leader. But this word may be written in two

ways: either using the short diphthong „ei”, or with the long one ”ij”, although the pronunciation is

the sa me. When written with „ij” it means „martyr”. This superposition of meanings is sending a

message: any Dutch leader who is trying to put hi m forward too much, is rapidly „c ut”, In the Dutch

world, at work or in other cases, it is not accepted to put you forward – or this is considered

something of bad taste.

Keywords: leadership, manager, globalization.

1. The leadership in global context

Due to the reason of the more pronounced globalization of the business world, we can no

longer ignore the powerful cultural side of leadership. In other words, there are differences

between leading styles considered as accepted by a national culture or another. For example,

I come from Netherlands – in Dutch, the word meaning leader is leider. But this word may

be written in two ways: either using the short diphthong „ei”, or with the long one ”ij”,

although the pronunciation is the same. When written with „ij” it means „martyr”. This

superposition of meanings is sending a message: any Dutch leader who is trying to put him

forward too much, is rapidly „cut”, In the Dutch world, at work or in other cases, it is not

accepted to put you forward – or this is considered something of bad taste1.

Although a very efficient leading style in a country may be extremely unsuitable for another

one, people are not always aware that there would be any cultural difference.

Regarding the different leading models and to the differences between cultural norms, we

notice that in this world which t ends to be more global, more convergent tendencies start to

crystallize. Thus, the following features and aptitudes would be useful to „global leaders” this

meaning the leaders acting in a multi-cultural environment:

- charisma;

- skills for team work;

- opening towards changes;

- interest in political and social – economical life of other countries;

- capacity to establish good connections with people belonging to other cultures;

- adaptability to new situations;

- adaptability to work in a multi-cultural team, etc.

1 Kets de Vries, M.R.F. şi Perzow S., Handbook of Carater Studies, 2000, New York, I.U.P.

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