Helicopters & Hybrid Airships - Part 5

By Dr. Timothy Merritt June 6, 2021

Helicopters & Hybrid Airships - Part 5

Figure 1: St. Paul on the tarmac with Rescue Helicopter

Potential Cultural Problem Areas While both Canada and the US tend to employ similar leadership styles, “individual differences will still exist in the adherence to cultural values and as such, not all individuals will display the cultural values of their indigenous cultures.” For global leaders, managing complexity requires being prepared to use culturally and situationally appropriate leadership styles.

Figure 2: Culturally-based Leadership Style Comparison

Tanzanian culture (represented by the Maasai tribe) is extremely collectivist; individual standout talent is not approved by tribal leadership. It is likely that standout talent and charismatic leadership typical of US leadership styles could be rejected by Maasai members. It is imperative that Columbia Helicopter professionals cultivate an attitude of cultural humility to be successful in this environment.

The societal emphasis on collectivism is high in China and is characterized by networks based on trust , while the US culture is individualistic. Confucian Asia is also characterized by a very long-term orientation so Columbia Helicopter professionals should plan on spending significant amounts of time developing relationships before beginning any significant operations tempo.

Cross-Cultural Adjustment Process

Understanding the Cross-Cultural Adjustment Process means taking the time to: •

Lead with cultural humility and not impose an American system on the host nation

•

Appreciate real cultural expertise and seek out those people deep experience

•

Engage in developmental cultural experiences.

All of this takes time, and it can be uncomfortable. But the investment Columbia makes now will pay significant dividends later as all of this leads to developing personnel who have Cultural Agility. Let’s take a look at the cultural competencies that can be developed in this manner:

References: Caligiuri, P. (2012). Cultural agility: Building a pipeline of successful global professionals.

Jossey-Bass. ISBN-10: 1118275071; ISBN-13: 978-1118275078

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