William J. Holstein

Thoughtful Views From Reader About Multinationals
JULY 1--

Reader Astor thinks that personality types are just as important as the factors I cited to allow teams of different nationals to function well together at the top of large American corporation, and he argues that the Americans are ahead of the Europeans in this regard. Here's what he says:

"I've been working with people from all the European countries (and east a little) develop their communication and leadership skills in English for some time and currently I've been working with the European Commission and Council on their abilities to communicate their intentions clearly and have been helping managers influence and persuade others in an clear and positive manner. This has included a number of people from other continents who work with the EU.

"I've found that cultural differences are like the shape of a scale, but the two extreme points of personality and behavior are basically the same in all people. Those extreme areas (kind of left and right), are where lots of misunderstanding goes on. It seems that training people to not only be more tolerant and sensitive to other people is good, but if they can in themselves, have a broader awareness of how others live and think, it really helps. Of course, strong corporate culture and analytical measurements are powerful and effective tools, but wouldn't you agree that we're talking about real people here, and they can be trained in social skills (not touchy feeley things but concrete communication, courage and speaking their minds diplomatically and persuasively) and we could see a sort of Global Personality factor that is strong in personality, opinion, beliefs while being receptive, understanding and ready to learn. Creativity and good sense is the high road to success, in my opinion.

"Since the baby boomers are starting to step aside, multinationals have the opportunity to train their way out of possible mediocrity into an exciting development of a sort of global representative from a particular country who relates from their own humanity. We are who we are and we connect with who we aren't.

"American companies have more of a sense for this and you are absolutely right. It may be because of the independent entrepreneurs that redefine the market. Whereas in Europe, the powerful never seem to give an inch and that has caused lots of brain drain and serious issues for them in the future."

-30-