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Global LeadershipCompetencies

David Whitfield, Ed.D.

Gonzaga University-Doctoral Program

School of Professional Studies

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Global Leadership Defined

• A process leading to curiosity, exploration,

discovery, accountability, and trust,

implemented across borders

• Ability to unleash human potential and

leverage the richness that lies in cultural

diversity (Rosinski, 2003)

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Global Leadership Requires

Competencies Specialists

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Global Leadership Competencies

• Cultural

• Political

• International

• Technological

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Essential Specialists

• Business Manager

• Country Manager

• Functional Manager

• Corporate Manager

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Political Competency

Seek to understand:

– Policy and power goals

– Local and economic implications

– Different governmental structures

– Decision-making processes

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International Competency

See the world as:

– Diverse, heterogeneous community

– Different fiscal, social, political, and communication systems

– Influential - how these systems affect each other

– Interrelated to your goals

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Technological Competency

Work to identify and monitor:

• Needs or gaps

• Capabilities and limitations

• Relationship to cross-cultural communication

• Integration of communication, collaboration, and trust

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Essential Specialists

1. Business Manager

2. Country Manager

3. Functional Manager

4. Corporate Manager

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Roles of Business Manager

• Strategist

• Architect

• Coordinator

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Business Manager

• Identifies and monitors company’s global-scale efficiency and competitiveness

• Recognizes and creates opportunities and minimizes risks across national and functional boundaries

• Links and coordinates capabilities across barriers

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Roles of Country Manager

• Sensor

• Builder

• Contributor

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Country Manager

• Builds local community and customer relationships

• Responds to host government’s requirements

• Supports corporation’s market positions

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Roles of Functional Manager

• Scanner

• Cross-Pollinator

• Champion

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Functional Manager

• Scans for learning opportunities and spreads innovations

• Cross-pollinates knowledge, best practices, detects trends and moves all across boundaries

• Champions global teams

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Corporate Manager

• Leader

• Talent Scout

• Developer

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Corporate Manager

• Integrates the many levels of responsibility working to balance negotiations among the three

• Identifies and recruits: ensuring a diverse global leadership team

• Develops business, country, and functional managers to respond to global leadership demands

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Summary--Competencies

• Cultural

• Political

• International

• Technological

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Summary--Specialists

1. Business Manager

2. Country Manager

3. Functional Manager

4. Corporate Manager

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A Must for Global Leaders

Open your mind to everything;

close it to nothing.