Ten Crucial Global Leadership Qualities

Global coaching can be viewed as an integrated approach to develop ten global leadership qualities needed to effectively address the 21st century’s complex challenges and the way Global Leaders (GLs) embody them:

1  Multiple-perspectives outlook

A broad range of different disciplines, alternative cultural worldviews, various forms of intelligence as well as diverse archetypes available to us.
GLs address challenges by combining openness, curiosity and ability to see reality from multiple perspectives.

2  Doing well by doing good

Eager to frame personal and organizational goals in the broader context of improving the world.
GLs strive to achieve meaningful objectives. Committed to sustainable progress by reconciling profit and purpose, they use research linking doing well with doing good to act most effectively and strategically. It supports them to articulate compelling arguments that bring all stakeholders on board. Not trapped in conventional thinking, their entrepreneurial spirit goes hand in hand with an environmental and social conscience, with a commitment to innovation and long-term excellence for addressing complex societal challenges.

3  Authenticity

Living a genuine life they can truly call their own.
GLs are on a journey to live a life they can truly call their own. Authenticity does not imply that they are always transparent or that they refuse to play a role when necessary. It does not prevent growth by learning from others. It does imply however stepping back from societal conditioning to exercise one’s freedom and make personal choices.

4  Health and fitness

Taking proactive steps to be healthy and fit, and to promote wellness in their organizations.
GLs go beyond following basic nutritional advice and doing a bit of exercise. They tend to follow a low-calorie, plant-based diet high in unrefined carbohydrates. Their fitness regimen is varied including cardiovascular endurance, strength and power, balance and flexibility. In this way, they increase their well-being, quality of life and effectiveness. GLs also encourage wellness programs in their organizations, thereby achieving a return on investment that can be as high as 6 to 1 (Berry, Mirabito and Baun, December 2010).

5  Results-orientation

Achieving results and adding value.
GLs are productive and results-oriented. They adapt their leadership style to each situation, taking particular account of followers’ readiness (ability and willingness) to achieve a task. They build trust and delegate authority.

6  Emotional and relational competences

“Emotionally intelligent” and able to build constructive relationships.
GLs take personal responsibility for their actions.  In touch with their emotions they are assertive (vs aggressive or submissive) and psychologically minded. They recognize and avoid negative psychological games, understand defense mechanisms and don’t fall prey to neurotic, immature patterns. They are familiar with personality differences and able to make the most of these building on strengths. Favoring an integrated approach rather than limiting themselves to a one school of thought, they master varied communication techniques to open up possibilities.

7  Political know-how

Engaging in constructive politics.
GLs appreciate politics as inherent to organizational life since we need others to make our goals happen. Instead of viewing politics as a priori negative, GLs engage in constructive politics. While power gives impact and leverage, service guides our actions. GLs understand the sources of power and take proactive actions to increase their power, which is their ability to achieve important, meaningful objectives. They build alliances out of their commitment to serve immediate constituencies and stakeholders as well as humanity at large, striving to become “enlightened builders”.

8  Cultural inclusiveness

Leveraging cultural differences and building unity in diversity.
GLs appreciate the legitimacy and merits of different cultural perspectives. Seen as a source of richness and an opportunity to go beyond current limitations, GLs have an inclusive and dynamic concept of culture that contrasts with the traditional static and binary view. They master a vocabulary to describe cultural orientations in areas of practical importance: power and responsibility, time management, definitions of identity and purpose, organizational arrangements, notions of territory and boundaries, communication and thinking. GLs know their own cultural norms, values and assumptions and can leverage cultural differences. This allows them to build unity in diversity when working across cultures.

9  Spiritual awakening

Living purposefully and mindfully.
GLs have an increased awareness of a connection with themselves, others, nature, with the immanent and transcendent “divine”. They find meaning in their lives discerning what is truly important. Living purposefully and mindfully, they are united with themselves and with others.

Wisdom combined with lightness allows them to appreciate and savor life, and to accept suffering that cannot be avoided with courage and dignity, building resilience.

GLs reflect on crucial questions e.g.: “What is truly important for me?” and “What is my legacy?” using meditation and artistic exploration to tap into deep unconscious aspirations. By cultivating an attitude of gratitude GLs welcome the beauties life offers and radiate this energy toward others.

10 Deep interconnectedness

Linking and synthesizing.
The traditional mechanistic worldview is insufficient to address today’s complexity. Leaders need to understand the emerging holographic organic worldview and complexity theory.

GLs move beyond fragmentation and over-specialization, and appreciate the interconnections and broader implications of everything they do. They are unsatisfied with superficial and instrumental human relations, striving to establish genuine human bonds and to be fully present.

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