Leadership and Diversity Chapter 10

“Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides “Leadership has a harder job to do than just choose sides. It must bring sides together.” Jesse Jackson

Rogers and Steinfatt Culture – the total way of life of a people, composed of their learned and shared behavior patterns, values, norms, and material objects.

Culture Communication patterns Formal organizations Artifacts Verbal and nonverbal Formal organizations Artifacts Collective wisdom Environment

Classifying Culture Cultures change over time Scholars disagree about how to categorize some nations Not every member of a culture group will respond the same way Political and cultural boundaries are not always identical Westerners have developed most of the cultural categories and may have overlooked values that are important to non-Westerner societies

High Context-Low Context Overt and explicit Messages plainly coded Details verbalized Reactions on the surface Flexible ingroups and outgroups Fragile interpersonal bonds Commitment low Time highly organized Covert and implicit Messages internalized Much nonverbal coding Reactions reserved Distinct ingroups and outgroups Strong interpersonal bonds Commitment high Time open and flexible

Hofstede’s Five Value Dimensions Power distance Individualism-collectivism Masculinity-femininity Uncertainty avoidance Long-term/short-term orientation

Power Distance Low power distance Uncomfortable with differences in wealth, status, power and privilege Promote equal rights Emphasize interdependence High power distance Inequality natural Superiors are special and deserve special privileges Obligated to take care of subordinates

Individualism-Collectivism Emphasizes needs and goals of individual Respond to material rewards Decisions made by individuals Leader provides autonomy and opportunities for growth Expect to be told of poor performance Emphasizes group identity Prefer team rewards Expect mutual loyalty between organizational leaders and followers New ideas come from the group Manage group behavior through group norms and social values Leaders nurture followers Prefer indirect criticism

Masculinity-Femininity Men are assertive, competitive, ambitious and dominant Members more motivated by material success “Live to work” Women are encouraged to serve Are better at interpersonal relationships Put greater emphasis on intuition “Work to live”

Uncertainty Avoidance High View uncertainty as a threat Less tolerant Believe in written rules Seek security Give more weight to age and seniority when selecting leaders Managers seem unapproachable Are more loyal Low Accept uncertainty as a fact of life Experience less stress Take more risks Less concerned about rules More likely to trust their own judgment Emphasize interpersonal relationships

Long-Term/Short-Term Orientation Encourage norms and behaviors that lead to future rewards Sacrifice immediate gratification for long term benefits Feelings of shame come from violation of social contracts and commitments Status relationships clearly defined Respect tradition Expect quick results Put much less importance on persistence Spend freely and have lower savings rates Under greater pressure to demonstrate immediate progress

Cultural Synergy Refers to the production of an end product that is greater than the sum of its parts Leaders draw on the diversity of a group to get a better solution/product Synergistic problem solving Identify the dilemma Try to determine why members act as they do Try to determine how each culture’s differences contribute Implementation of a solution that has considered all cultures involved

Benefits of Diversity Cost savings Resource acquisition and utilization Keeping and gaining market share Better decision making Greater innovation

Obstacles to Diversity Individual level Prejudice Discrimination stereotyping Group level Ethnocentrism Institutional level

The Center for Creative Leadership GOLD – Guidelines on Leadership Diversity The GOLD Project Accountability Internal advocacy groups Administrative practices Development Diversity training programs Development programs Recruitment

Creating an Enabling Organizational Context Become personally involved in diversity issues Build partnerships to ensure long-term success of diversity efforts Understand that diversity initiatives will both maintain and change corporate culture

Ensuring Opportunity Monitor the distribution of and pathways to opportunity Spotlight the threshold between upper-middle management and executive level positions

Ensuring the Development Takes Place Facilitate the formation of developmental relationships Directly address attitudes that create low expectations for minority performance

Thomas and Gabarro’s Lessons for Aspiring Minority Leaders Choose work and an organization that suit your personality Choose high quality experiences over fast advancement Build a network of developmental relationships The organization matters Take charge of your own career Race matters, but it alone does not determine your fate Make sure it is worth the price

The Gender Leadership Gap Very few women in top management or government positions Difference in male and female leadership?

Creating the Gap Women need mentors Gender stereotyping Gender expectations communicated from the moment we are born Leadership a male domain Women enter service professions because of their nurturing role

Narrowing the Gap Aggressive recruitment Greater accountability for developing females leaders Formation of advocacy groups Mentorship Executive development programs

Differences in Communication Men Apologies-reluctant to do More critical – get straight to the point View saying thank you puts them in a subordinate position Are socialized to express their preferences through open challenge and criticism Women Apologies-to express understanding Soften criticism by interjecting positive comments Express gratitude and will say thank you as a way to end the conversation Discouraged from ritual fighting

Differences in Communication Men Associate giving compliments with low status and are less likely to respond in kind Perceive complaints and problems as something to be fixed Women Are more willing to risk lessening their position of control by recognizing other’s strengths and complimenting them Rapport is strengthened by sharing problems and feelings

Differences in Communication Men Humor is teasing and hostile Encouraged to tell their accomplishments Are more likely to behave in an authoritarian manner Women Humor is self-deprecating Discouraged from publicly telling their accomplishments Try to create feelings of equality

Common Dysfunctional Communication Patterns Excluding women from the decision-making process Dismissing their contributions by interrupting, talking over, or ignoring ideas expressed Retaliation based on male fear of female competence Patronizing responses such as treating female participation as unimportant or as an after-thought