GLOBAL & DOMESTIC OUTLOOK FLEXIBLE LEADERSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL SUCCESS By Peter Jones W hile some might think that only certain individuals possess the qualities to be a leader, the truth is that everyone has the capacity to lead, and all members of an organization can contribute toward building an effective leadership culture. Having such a collaborative management culture empowers firms to meet the needs of a dynamic international business environment and to adapt to diverse cultural and professional situations. Here are a few suggestions for developing strong, flexible leadership at all levels in your law firm. BE AWARE OF CULTURAL DIFFERENCES In his book When Cultures Collide, author and linguistic researcher Richard D. Lewis identifies some of the specific differences among business cultures in different countries. For example, French workers typically operate in a much more hierarchical manner than their American counterparts. Keeping these sorts of cultural differences in mind is important when working with international teams, especially when deciding how to delegate tasks. KNOW WHAT OTHER LEADERS VALUE In a survey of 195 business leaders in 15 countries released by the Harvard Business Review, respondents said that having high ethical and moral standards is the most important trait of good leaders.