The broader the better

International experience helps leaders of diverse workplaces

“Leaders with broad multinational experiences are better communicators and lead more effectively, particularly multinational teams.” New research referenced in a recent INSEAD Knowledge article finds that working in other countries usually results in leaders performing better overall.

I’ve been fortunate to have lived and worked in four countries, with an additional five being parts of those territories in which I worked. While it’s for others to judge whether this made me a better leader, the experience has given me a better understanding of working with people from diverse backgrounds. With the multicultural nature of Australia and New Zealand, leaders can benefit from international experience.

The research found “global teams perform better under global leaders, where overseas exposure can help them to leverage the benefits and mitigate the drawbacks of nationally diverse groups of workers.”

Of particular interest is this finding: “the breadth of multicultural experiences (the number of foreign countries in which someone has lived or worked), but not the depth (the duration of time spent abroad), predicted leadership effectiveness via communication competence.” That is, it’s how many places you’ve worked, not how long you’ve worked in those places, that adds value.

The area where leaders most benefit is communication. “Leaders with broader multicultural experiences are more likely to speak and behave in a way that a contact can understand and use language and gestures that are more appropriate to a particular situation.” What’s important seems to be an awareness of cultural differences and incorporating that awareness in how leadership is manifested.

For potential leaders, the benefits of international experience are clear: the broader the better. For organisations, look for broad international experience in leadership candidates so you have people who are better equipped to lead increasingly diverse workplaces.

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Photograph: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on Flickr.