I’m currently taking a course entitled Leadership in Global Context. The class centers around an appreciation of thinking and leading from a global perspective. We’ve been talking about culture and the traits inherent in the culture of successful global leaders. Traits such as personal and cultural values; how they’re formed and when. How the values you develop determine the behaviors you exhibit. Finally, how they’re all interconnected and essential to successful global leadership.
During the second week of class, I learned a new term. Ethnocentrism. Ethnocentrism is defined as an “exaggerated tendency to think the characteristics of one’s own group or race is superior to those of other groups or races” (Drever, 1952, p. 86). Ethnocentrism also leads to stereotyping. People who can’t see the world from other perspectives will often label groups with sweeping generalizations. This is known as the out-group effect. (Turner & Haslam, 2001) As I processed the definition I couldn’t help but associate it with our current political administration. I’m speaking about Donald Trump.
I didn’t start off disliking Mr. Trump. I’m actually a conservative who probably should welcome someone from outside the political establishment. When he first announced his candidacy, I found his public speaking engagements entertaining. I saw the entire process as a self-indulgent marketing exercise. However, over the past year I’ve come to fear him and what he stands for. As I started learning about leadership culture, character and culture, (Northouse, 2015), my understanding of what a great leader should be, changed.
As I considered the definition of ethnocentrism, I came to believe it perfectly describes, and unfortunately defines, our current president. A quick search of ethnocentric leaders identifies some very scary people. The US is a melting pot of different cultures. It’s the basic foundation of what we stand for. On the bronze plaque in the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty is written, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” (Lazarus, E 1883)
As I look across the business landscape, it appears to me that any business with no ability to appeal to a global audience places themselves in the downside of opportunity. It was with that in mind that I decided to take this class. I wanted to ensure I wasn’t limiting myself and my career opportunities by narrowing my vision about thinking and leading globally.
It’s early in the semester and we’ve barley scratched the surface of culture and values and how they impact global thinking. And yet it’s easy to understand the relationship between values and culture because it impacts us all. Values tend to be formed in the beginning of one’s life. (Massey, 1979) A person’s values determine his or her individual behavior. (Rokeach, 1973) The collection of an individuals’ behaviors determines the cultural values that each individual’s behavior is measured against. The idea that the person leading our country sees himself as superior and above all others, means his values, defined and instilled during adolescence, have made him the person he is and will always be.
References
Drever, H. E. (1952). A dictionary of psychology. Harmondsworth, Middlesex: Penguin.
Massey, M. (1979). The people puzzle: Understanding yourself and others. Reston, VA: Reston Publishing Co.
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences (Ninth ed.). New York: Routledge.
Northouse, P.G. (2015). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice. Los Angeles: Sage
Rokeach, M. (1973). The nature of human values. New York: The Free Press.
Turner, J. C. & Haslam, S. A. (2001). Social identity, organizations and leadership. In M.E. Turner (Ed.), Groups at work: Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Lazarus, E. (2005). Selected Poems: Selected Poems (American Poets Project)
kmd6295 says
The connection made between ethnocentrism is our current president was truly fascinating to read. I had not myself made that link but after reading your post and my understanding of the content, it truly make sense. Since ethnocentrism is the belief that ones culture is superior to another (Moran, Abramson, & Moran, 2014) – you can see the link clearly. As a global leader this thought process is definitely interfering with the business of our president. His interactions and perspectives have fallen short on many of our foreign counterparts.
References
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., & Moran, S. V. (2014). Managing Cultural Differences. (9th ed). Oxon: Routledge
Pennsylvania State University (2018). Leadership in Global Context — OLED 410. Lesson 2: Introduction to Culture, Penn State World Campus, The Pennsylvania State University.