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Rebuilding Our Mental Maps:

The Key To Global Training

Marc Sokol, PhDPDI Ninth House

April 2009

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My Premise

For any domain of training and development that you offer, if you plan to be more global

You must be ready to adapt your own thinking and assumptions

to meet the challenge of a different world from the one in which you were raised

(easy to say, harder to do)

3Putting our story in context…

Personnel Decisions International

Founded in 1967

4Every global journey begins with a small step…

5PDI Ninth House today…

Wherever you are today, you can become more global

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A personal story...the 50% rule

~50% of what made a leader successful in their former role is essential to their new role.

The other ~50% may not help and

may get in the way.

Implication: You must pay attention to what makes a difference across settings

But no one can tell you which 50% is which!

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What differences matter?

Spelling Paper size and hole punch Laws of the land Comprehension of a non-native language Ability/willingness to learn through

acronyms, country-centric analogies and “common knowledge” of a different culture

Cultural differences

All impact receptiveness to training

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Research on cultural differences(and cultural similarities)

• Two large global samples (over 10,000 participants in each)

• 12 countries represented in one study; 16 countries in the second study

• Similarities & differences in personality• Managers and executives across the globe

value competencies and behaviors differently

PDI Research Report: Cultural differences in a shrinking world: leadership implications.

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Two dimensions of personality

Emotional balance – feel emotions strongly/ emotions change quickly vs. intellectualize problems/emotions more muted

Agreeableness – concern for harmony of the group vs. tendency to place needs of the individual above those of the group

Netherlands India Mexico Japan

More concern; promote harmony for sake of group

Less concern; blunt and straightforward

Emotions more muted

Feel emotions swiftly; peaks &valleys

Germany HK China Japan

PDI Research Report: Cultural differences in a shrinking world: leadership implications.

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Not surprising: similarities of Netherlands and Germany

Surprising: similarities of Japan and Saudi Arabia

PDI Research Report: Cultural differences in a shrinking world: leadership implications.

11Competencies and behaviors: What we prefer

Three dimensions of work performance

1. Fundamental leadership: Balance of thinking skills, people skills and adaptable leadership (focus on relationships, coaching, adaptability)

2. Business Know-How leadership: Technical skills and expertise

3. Results leadership: Planning and driving results (and focus on relationships and adaptability negatively related to this style!)

Questions

How do managers in different countries vary in the style they prefer?

What can happen when there is a mismatch and you don’t know it?

PDI Research Report: Cultural differences in a shrinking world: leadership implications.

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Leadership styles we prefer

Fundamental

USA

Germany

Singapore

MoreLess

Business Know-HowResults

X

Fundamental Business Know-How

ResultsX X X

Fundamental Business Know-How

ResultsX X X

PDI Research Report: Cultural differences in a shrinking world: leadership implications.

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Insights from the research studies

Learn about the culture where you plan to deliver training

What is “normal” behavior to one culture may be interpreted differently within another culture.

Different styles can lead you and others to err in judgment about motives and engagement

There is variation in every group Be mindful about your assumptions of

groups and individuals

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What you can do, even on a budget

Seek exposure to different perspectives Embrace curiosity Test your assumptions Remind yourself that different isn’t better

or worse, it’s different Ask, “What works easily and what seems

more difficult to apply?” Remember the 50% rule

And while you are at it, don’t forget…

15The world always looks right from our own perspective

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A few great resources

The Economist The Financial Times (one of many fine

non-US newspapers) The world is flat by Thomas Friedman Powerful times by Eumonn Kelly Riding the waves of culture (or

anything by Fons Trompenaars), Developing global executives by

Morgan McCall & John Hollenbeck

17The great opportunity of our profession is to build a sturdy bridge

connecting what is inside each of us with what is inside others

Let your own journey be filled with self-discovery

and learning across the world

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Questions and Comments

Sponsored by

Marc Sokol, PDI Ninth House

Marc.Sokol@personneldecisions.com

www.personneldecisions.com

19Postscript… or is it a ‘prequel’ to global training?

We are not the first ones to reach out across the globe

This is what happens when you don’t update your map