Bring the HEAT

What makes leaders effective in a globalized world?

This was the question that kicked off last weekend at Harvard Extension School. 40 plus participants from very diverse origins, backgrounds and characteristics got together to try to solve this puzzle. From Nigeria to Korea, from entry-level to CEO, from farming to technology, from freshman to retirement…we shared our perspectives about diversity and what really makes a difference when it comes to make global teams work. In an environment where virtualization, innovation and diversity are critical for success; the challenge of preventing the melting pot from burning itself are numerous.

When reflecting on what we discussed and learnt during the weekend, I just realized that at the end of the day, what really makes a difference to manage diversity is the HEAT that you apply to that melting pot: Honesty, Empathy, Authenticity and Transparency.

• Honesty - in an era of the #metoo movement, data privacy concerns, and with the hangover of the last economical scandals still kicking out; to ensure that honesty and ethics guide our actions is critical.
• Empathy  - to be able to build successful relationships, you need to understand different points of view. Putting yourself in the place of the others and being able to listen and learn with curiosity is what makes the real difference.
• Authenticity – be comfortable in your own skin; it is not about work-life balance any longer, it is about living and bringing your entire self to the table to create real connections with real people.
• Transparency – communicate, communicate, communicate….and ask for feedback even more. Ensure that you balance advocacy and inquiry and cultivate fluid networks were information can navigate easily.

I’m curious to hear your thoughts on these questions:

• What else do you think it makes a global leader successful?
• How would you start bringing the HEAT up in your organization?

Disclaimer: the views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of current or past employers.