Dr Robert Kovach

Dr Robert Kovach

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Contact
⁄ SEARCH

It’s a Small, Small World – How to Get Global Understanding for Business

May 13, 2020 26 min read In: Consulting Leadership Tags: communication, global, global understanding, globalisation, international business, leadership By: robertkovach 0 Comment

It’s a Small, Small World – How to Get Global Understanding for Business

May 13, 2020 26 min read In: Consulting Leadership Tags: communication, global, global understanding, globalisation, international business, leadership By: robertkovach 0 Comment

As globalisation has become the business norm (and frankly, our personal norms too), it’s become more important than ever to understand that almost nothing is local anymore. Or at least, not local in the way that it was thirty or even twenty years ago. It’s key to get the global understanding vital for corporate success today. And truly appreciating how local culture and politics and instincts are different from one place to another requires more than the occasional business trip.

How do you get truly get more global understanding for business?

How it all ads up. At the simplest level, companies have known for years that advertising and marketing campaigns have to reflect the local demographic. Who makes the purchasing decisions, what are priorities in the home or work, and simply what are trends in a specific market influence the success of a message to would-be consumers. But now promotion of products and services is as much a social media campaign as a print ad one. And of course, the Internet is not limited to geographical boundaries. That doesn’t mean that sending a universal message will work. But it does mean that it’s impossible to prevent universal access to each message you send.

Workers united. But of course relationships with consumers are only one stage of the total operational process, and really each step requires global understanding of business. Internally, corporate life is defined by worldwide transactions. It’s pro forma to hold videoconference calls that span six time zones. Organisation charts arrange teams that are as likely organised by region of the world as they are by service line. Not to mention HQ communications that go to literally thousands of employees around the globe. Understanding how to connect and motivate across cultural lines, national boundaries and regional influences requires a next level global understanding.

Exposure < experience < empathy. Be careful not to overestimate how much you understand a city, let alone an entire country. It takes on the ground presence, for an extended period, and frequently. Even if you’ve been an international business traveller for two decades, times changes so rapidly, and with them regional markers. If you paid in deutsche marks the last time you stayed at the Hilton in Munich you should officially consider yourself out of the loop. But the truth is, even if you went to Glasgow before Brexit, you may no longer understand how Scottish ideas about national and local politics have changed.

More importantly, it’s simply not possible to have more than a superficial appreciation of a country one hotel room – or windowless conference room – at a time. Visiting Buffalo tells you little about daily Miami life, a trip to Cardiff gives little insight into Brixton. It can take a year or more to have a day-to-day understanding how local people act and think. And it can take another five to ten years to have true empathy for the internal challenges and opportunities. And yet, how do you strategize when you can’t predict? Sure, you’ve got local people on the ground for that, but someone’s got to be able to ask the right questions to get the useful answers.

So is there a way to acquire a global understanding for business?

Maybe, maybe not. Perhaps the best answer is to appreciate that what we once called international relations is better described as global operations. A relationship is between two different entities. An operation is the internal machinations of one organisation. Top to bottom, leadership has to be as diverse as rank and file. Being continually aware of blind spots can be a good reminder to listen as much as speak. It’s key to create an environment where everyone learns to be approachable and teachable. The good news is that isn’t nearly as difficult as it once. There’s more to learn as operations expand, but in the digital age we’re closer than ever. It’s a small world after all.

Robert Kovach is the Director of Leader Success for Cisco’s Leadership and Team Intelligence Practice Area. He has been an advisor to leadership teams of Fortune 500, FTSE 100 and FTSE Global 500 companies on driving business strategy through executive leadership effectiveness and organizational agility. The opinions expressed in this blog are his own and not those of Cisco. Contact him for speaking enquiries.

PREVIOUS

Working as a Team Remotely... Suddenly and Indefinitely

NEXT

What to Do About Corporate Culture During the Pandemic

  • What I learned about leadership at the bottom of an African coal mine

    What I learned about leadership at the bottom of an African coal mine

    Mar 17, 2017
  • 5 Ways Your Leadership Will Benefit from this Vigneron

    5 Ways Your Leadership Will Benefit from this Vigneron

    Mar 24, 2017
  • How social media may save your career.

    How social media may save your career.

    Apr 7, 2017

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

  • Subscribe Here!




  • This blog explores the intersection of psychology, leadership and current trends.
    Let's start a conversation! »

  • Categories

    • Careers
    • Consulting
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Gastronomy
    • HR
    • Leadership
    • Psychology
    • Teams
    • Technology
    • Uncategorized
    • Workplace
  • Archives

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • March 2018
    • November 2017
    • September 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
  • Recent Posts

    • Twitter Dumped Trump. Is This The New Corporate Political Responsibility?
    • Treat Your Work Life Like a Workout – Use Active Recovery from Work to Come Back Better
    • How Do Teams Benefit Leaders? In Every Way Imaginable.
    • Is Flexibility on Your CV? The Skills Companies Need Now
    • What we’ve learned and what to do next — Getting companies ready for 2021

Dr Robert Kovach

Copyright uiueux.com
⁄ SEARCH