Global Awareness: Leading With The Full View
"We have always done it that way!" said the dinosaur.
Dinosaurs Stand in Stagnant Waters
Globally absent leaders may provoke frustration with their stagnant industrial-age mentality, their eyes fixed firmly on the rearview mirror rather than the road ahead. You recognise them by their strict adherence to hierarchical decision-making and their preference for the 'tried and true' over the innovative and unknown. They are the ones who react to international trends and opportunities with skepticism instead of curiosity, and view technology as a disruptive force rather than an enabler of progress.
These leaders are the dinosaurs of the business world, large and in charge but ill-suited to the climate of today's global ecosystem. "The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page," goes the adage, and in the business sense, these leaders are stuck on the first chapter.
Decide: Your Leadership and Legacy
If this isn’t the way you wish to lead, nor the legacy you wish to leave, shift towards becoming globally aware. Action may include :
Replace the top-down directives with round-table discussions that welcome diverse perspectives.
Instead of resisting global trends, learn from them.
Leverage underlying talents, assets, influence, and capital to expand into low-risk, low-investment intangible business models.
Expand the problem you solve locally to a scalable worldwide solution to all people who experience the problem.
True value isn’t just in hitting quarterly targets but in understanding the broader implications of your actions on society and the planet. And, its working in a commercially smart way to address risks and seize opportunities as they emerge, which is increasingly from many corners of the planet, concurrently.
Time to Upgrade Models
Becoming globally aware is like upgrading from a flip phone to a smartphone; you suddenly have more tools, more connections, and more possibilities at your fingertips. It’s a straightforward exchange - outdated methods for a dynamic approach that considers the global narrative.
To become globally aware, you must tune into the global frequency, embrace the variety it offers, and use it to inform smarter, more sustainable business practices. It's about leading with a world map in hand, rather than a narrow lens, ready to navigate the world economy with informed agility.
A Competitive Edge in The Year Ahead
I believe that amplified ambition drives global goals. Understanding the complexities of the global economy and strategically leveraging them to your advantage is a critical move for success in 2024. With heightened global awareness, you're positioned to act decisively, gaining an edge as others remain static (and at risk of extinction).
Will you stay where you are? How would you gain by becoming more globally aware?
Love this, Sophie!