Javier San Martin

PERCEPTION OF LEADERSHIP IN

MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

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Objectivesours

e

• Highlight the significance of other cultures’

expectations in topics like leadership vs

authority.

• Increase your knowledge of and give insight

into the importance of your own culture in

determining our behaviour in such areas like

superior-subordinate coordination.

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Rela

tive f

req

uency

Mean distribution

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• American ?

What would the Captain of an ocean

liner say if his ship would have to be

abandoned, if he was...

• British ?

• German ?

• Indian ?

• French ?

• Dutch or Swedish ?

• Italian or Belgium ?

“It’s a Challenge !!!”

“It’s the sporting thing to do…”

“It’s the right procedure…”

“If we don’t jump we’ll lose face…”

“It’s a matter of honour…”

“Let’s sit down and talk about it…”

“It’s forbidden to jump…”

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"The art of

leadership is

saying no,

not saying yes.

It is very easy to say

yes.“

Tony Blair

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... the meaning of leader according to .....ourse

a person who rules, guides, or inspires others. (Collins Dictionary)

qui occupe la premièreplace (Larousse)

pessoa que exerce influência sobreo comportamento, pensamento ouopinião dos outros.(Dicionário

Priberam da Língua Portuguesa)

persona a la que un grupo sigue, considerándole el jefe. (RAE dictionary)

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Leadership in

Mediterranean

european countries

is associated to…

• authority.

• keep everything under tight control.

• inspect the subordinate performance permanently.

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Leadership in

northern european

countries is

associated to…

• take responsibility.

• be assertive (not in all)

• show charisma.

• being at the wheel!!

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Perception

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.

Power distance in Europe

0 - 20

21 - 40

41 - 60

61 - 80

81 - 100

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20 30 40 50 6010 70 80 % Percentage in agreement

Manager's role varies across cultures

Great Britain

SwedenNetherlands

USADenmark

Switzerland

Belgium

Germany

France

Italy

Indonesia

Japan

17

18

23

27

38

44

46

53

66

73

78

10

17

18

23

27

38

44

46

53

66

73

78

“ It is important for a manager

to have at hand precise answers to

most of the questions that his

subordinates may raise about

their work ”

Source: André Laurent

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Implications in the

business

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• decisive.

• local hero.

• selling the decision in a consultative way.

• in control.

The effective boss in Anglosaxon

countries:

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• highly visible.

• giving clear direction

• “people respect what you inspect” yet resist inspection.

• selling the decision in a consultive way.

• in control.

• protection of your honour.

The effective boss in Mediterranean

countries :

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• mutual adaptation.

• formulation of objectives and targets.

• allow for strict accountability

• provide communication during process.

The coordination in Anglosaxon

countries is based on:

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• direct supervision.

• informal/friendly inspections

• be clear in your mandate.

• selling the decision in a consultive way.

• in control.

• “Noblesse oblige”

The coordination in Mediterranean

countries is based on:

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• superior and subordinate come together

to discuss in an open way.

• the objectives the subordinate has to realise

in a certain period of time.

• later on, they come together to see to which degree the

subordinate has realized the objectives and then, they

review if they have to be adjusted.

The favourite management

technique in Anglosaxons countries:

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• superior and subordinate come together to discuss in an

open way.

• the objectives the subordinate has to realise in a certain

period of time.

• later on, they come together to see to which degree the

subordinate has realized the objectives

• and then, they review if they have to be adjusted.

The favourite management

technique in Anglosaxons countries:

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• superior and subordinate come together to discuss in an

open way.

• the objectives the subordinate has to realise in a certain

period of time.

• later on, they come together to see to which degree the

subordinate has realized the objectives

• and then, they review if they have to be adjusted.

....this is...

The favourite management

technique in Anglosaxons countries:

Management by

Objectives

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The favourite management technique in

Anglosaxons countries:

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• superior and subordinate come together to discuss in an

open way.

....this is...

The favourite management

technique in Anglosaxons countries:

Unreal in Med countries!!!!

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Thailand’s Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai (left) with

King

Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Royal Palace in Bangkok

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Communication implications

Decentralized, matrix Centralized, line

PDI-

PDI+

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Communication implications

Decentralized, matrix Centralized, line

PDI-

PDI+

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Perception

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UK35

0 20 40 60 80 100

PDI

IDV

11 100

20 89

Score differences in Europe

UK89

Portugal63

Portugal27

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Cultural bias

• What is like our own culture is normal

and good.

• What is different from our on culture is

abnormal and bad.

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Example: the Ebola outbreak(Spain vs USA)

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• were able to identify ‘best business

practices’ everywhere.

• were able to translate those practices into

the local cultures.

What we can do is the training

of managers who.....

Success!

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