The American Management Association (AMA) and the Institute for Corporate Productivity (i4cp) have issued their sixth annual global leadership study, “Developing Global-Minded Leaders to Drive High-Performance.” Conducted in collaboration with Training magazine, the study is based on input from 1,358 business leaders from more than 90 countries.

Among the key findings:

·                     Global development that begins with first-level leaders or individual contributors is more effective than delaying such efforts until candidates reach higher leadership levels.

·                     Active, experiential learning is preferable to on-the-job training in building global leaders.

·                     A global mindset distinguishes effective global leaders. Embracing cross-cultural diversity and cultivating collaborative relationships within and outside the organization are hallmarks of this perspective.

·                     Core social skills are essential for global leaders, including encouraging open expression of ideas, demonstrating awareness of global differences and maintaining positive relationships under difficult circumstances.

The study identifies several elements that promise to improve program effectiveness in a meaningful way. One key recommendation is that companies must ratchet up efforts to develop leaders early in their careers to have global skills and competencies, preferably within a distinct program and at least by including such focused curriculum within a general leadership development program.

About the study
The survey population consisted primarily of senior-level business, human resource and management professionals and was drawn from AMA and its global affiliates, i4cp’s global survey panel and subscribers to Training Magazine. The survey population was 1,358 with participants from more than 90 countries. A majority of the organizations represented in the survey are headquartered in North America.