Developing the skills you need to succeed as an international leader

I just completed this article from April 2009 issue of Harvard Business Review(pg 109). It was a good read and highlights the importance of what they call a global mind-set in order to succeed as an international leader.

Global mind-set has three components -

• Intellectual Capital - General knowledge and capacity to learn.
• Psychological Capital - Openness to differences and capacity for change.
• Social Capital - Ability to build trusting relationships with and among people who are different from you.

These components are each defined by three specific attributes. One can assess their readiness for an overseas leadership role.

• Intellectual Capital attributes - Global business savvy, Cognitive complexity, Cosmopolitan outlook
• Psychological Capital attributes - Passion for diversity, Thirst for adventure, Self assurance
• Social Capital attributes - Intercultural empathy, Interpersonal impact, Diplomacy

Authors also recommend ways to improve global mind-set which I think are quite useful.

Couple of my favorite lines from the article -

"The world may be flat in terms of technology and interconnection. But it is still quite bumpy in the sense that employees from different part of the globe may work in very different ways."

"The fact that I know more about you does not mean that I like you or I want to work with you."


Definitely a recommended read.