Managing with a Global Mindset

The objective of this unit is to equip participants with the knowledge and skills which are central to developing a global mindset, specifically in the context of international business relations. In this unit we shall focus on both the concepts and competencies of a global mindset. Leading in a global context means being able to influence people who have ways of doing things that are unlike and unfamiliar to us. In a global context we need to be able to bounce back very quickly from the surprise of unexpected and unfamiliar ways of doing things to lead people who do things in a way other than our own. We also need to learn to think and execute strategically in unfamiliar context. This poses unique challenges and requires unique skills that can be generalised to any situation of uncertainty and given that we are living in an uncertain world, the competencies developed in this course are essential to leading and managing in the face of uncertainty. We shall explore the interesting and complex set of issues around the idea of a “global mindset” in a “global world.” These include the relationship between globalization and localization; globalization, nationalism and fundamentalism; globalization, worldliness and cosmopolitan mindsets. All of these will contribute to becoming leaders able to influence people unlike and not familiar to us.