How and why business leaders who develop a global mindset
can help their companies to transcend cultural barriers
Companies cannot become global leaders unless and until
their executives “think, act, and lead [them effectively] in a turbulent,
transformed world.” This requires a
global mindset. Ángel Cabrera and Gregory Unruh provide in this book an
abundance of information, insights, and counsel that will help executives in
almost any organization (whatever its size and nature) to develop that mindset.
More specifically, leaders who “act as bridge builders,
connectors of global resources and talent, dedicated to finding new ways to
create value…They have experienced the difficulties of crossing lines in a
world that is becoming more tightly connected yet no flatter, where the nuances
and differences across cultures are becoming, if anything, more visible and
critical. They have found ways to navigate uneven terrain, close gaps, and make
a difference for people around the world.” Thus have Cabrera and Unruh
identified only a few of many dimensions of what a global mindset must
accommodate.
These are among the several dozen passages that caught my
eye:
o How global leaders
connect, create, and contribute (Pages 23-27)
o Why new global
business requires a global mindset (32-39)
o The major benefits
of a global mindset for a business (82-86)
o Why global
citizenship is an uncommon path to common solutions (121-123)
o How to build
prosperity for everyone involved in the given enterprise (140-147)
o How and why
leadership makes a difference (169-174)
o The obligations and privileges of “global
citizenship” (180)
To their credit, Cabrera and Unruh immediately establish and
then sustain a direct and personal rapport with their reader. Thus, when
approaching the conclusion of their book, they pose a question and then respond
to it: “What can you do to ensure you continue to stretch your global mindset,
that your ability to find and create new value remains nimble, and that you
continue to value the contributions and protect the interests of those around
you? The first step is to recognize that your learning never ends…To strengthen
your global entrepreneurship, you need to put yourself in positions that allow
you to apply your global mindset to create value…And to grow as a global
citizen, you must constantly renew your commitment to making a difference by
surrounding yourself with individuals who can support and strengthen your
resolve.”
No brief commentary such as this can do full justice to the
scope and depth of material that Ángel Cabrera and Gregory Unruh provide in
this book. However, for executives in organizations that are or aspire to
become global leaders, I think this is a “must read.” I also highly recommend
it to executives in other organizations that seek to strengthen their
relationships with global leaders.
Editor's note: This review was written by Robert Morris and has been published with his permission. Like what you read? Subscribe to the SFRB's free daily email notice so you can be up-to-date on our latest articles. Scroll up this page to the sign-up field on your right.
