This document discusses perceptions of leadership across different cultures in the Mediterranean region and Northern Europe. It aims to increase understanding of how cultural influences impact behaviors around leadership. Leadership is perceived differently depending on factors like power distance and individualism/collectivism. In Mediterranean countries, leadership is associated with authority, control, and honor, while Northern European leadership emphasizes responsibility, charisma, and shared decision-making. Effective management techniques also vary cross-culturally.

1. Javier San Martin
PERCEPTION OF LEADERSHIP IN
MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES

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Objectivesours
e
• 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.
• Highlight the significance of other cultures’
expectations in topics like leadership vs
authority.

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Relative frequency
Mean distribution

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What would the Captain of an ocean
liner say if his ship would have to be
abandoned, if he was...
• American ?
• 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
persona a la que un
grupo sigue,
considerándole el jefe.
(RAE dictionary)
a person who rules, guides,
or inspires others. (Collins
Dictionary)
qui occupe la
première
place (Larousse)
pessoa que exerce influência sobre
o comportamento, pensamento ou
opinião dos outros.(Dicionário
Priberam da Língua Portuguesa)

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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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Manager's role varies across cultures
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 % Percentage in agreement
Sweden
Netherlands
USA
Denmark
Great Britain
Switzerland
Belgium
Germany
France
Italy
Indonesia
Japan
17
18
23
27
38
44
46
53
66
73
78
10
“ 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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The effective boss in Anglosaxon
countries:
• decisive.
• local hero.
• selling the decision in a consultative way.
• in control.

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The effective boss in Mediterranean
countries :
• 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.

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The coordination in Anglosaxon
countries is based on:
• mutual adaptation.
• formulation of objectives and targets.
• allow for strict accountability
• provide communication during process.

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The coordination in Mediterranean
countries is based on:
• direct supervision.
• informal/friendly inspections
• be clear in your mandate.
• selling the decision in a consultive way.
• in control.
• “Noblesse oblige”

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The favourite management
technique in Anglosaxons countries:
• 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.

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The favourite management
technique in Anglosaxons countries:
• 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.

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The favourite management
technique in Anglosaxons countries:
• 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...
Management by
Objectives

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The favourite management technique in
Anglosaxons countries:

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The favourite management
technique in Anglosaxons countries:
• superior and subordinate come together to discuss in an
open way.
....this is...
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
PDI-PDI+
Decentralized, matrix Centralized, line

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Communication implications
PDI-PDI+
Decentralized, matrix Centralized, line

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Perception

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Score differences in Europe
0 20 40 60 80 100
UK
35
PDI
IDV
Portugal
63
11 100
UK
89
Portugal
27
20 89

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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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What we can do is the training
of managers who.....
• were able to identify ‘best business
practices’ everywhere.
• were able to translate those practices into
the local cultures.
Success!

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