Read the following passage and answer the questions given below it - Part A:
Whether you are leading a team at work, captaining your local sports team, or in charge of a major company, your style of leadership is a critical factor in the success of your team. So what makes an effective leader? According to Professor D Quinn Mills of the Harvard Business School, research shows that there are certain preferred leadership qualities that are common to all cultures. In general, people appreciate leaders who appear honest and trustworthy. However, integrity is a complex idea, often determined by national culture, and what is considered honest in one society is not necessarily so in another. Convection—a strong belief in what you are doing–is a characteristic of leaders in all cultures, but how it is displayed can vary widely. Demonstrating a whole-hearted commitment to the success of your team or project is possibly more overt in America than elsewhere. However, a passionate leader with energy and enthusiasm–someone who can energize and inspire their team to succeed–is an asset almost everywhere. Similarly, in most cultures it helps to be a good communicator, to be people-focused and have well-developed interpersonal skills. The ability to make good decisions quickly is something most cultures see as important. However, being decisive means different things to different people. European and Japanese leaders are the most collaborative decisionmakers, taking time to consult with colleagues and consider the options. This is typical of a more participative style of leadership. In contrast, Chinese leaders, for whom the typical role model is often the head of the family, are more likely to make decisions personally. This more autocratic approach tends to be typical of task-oriented, top-down leaders, where what counts is results – it is also frequent in American leaders. Being adaptable is also an important quality; team leaders often need to be flexible in their response to changing circumstances. Similarly, the ability to delegate and to know when to be hands-off is also necessary. There’s evidence that being able to show empathy – to understand the feelings, needs, and motivation of others – is increasingly seen as a key trait of effective leadership in the United States and Europe, and will become more important in Asia as companies have to compete for managerial talent in a global market. Related to this, certain Asian cultures value leaders who are self-aware and humble – the ability to know yourself and accept your limitations is often a trait of the most effective leaders. (i) How do leaders show empathy? Why would this trait become more important in Asian Companies?
(ii) What is the difference in leadership style between economies of Western Europe and Japan and that of China?
(iii) Why is 'integrity' a complex idea?
(iv) What trait is especially valued in certain Asian cultures?
(v) Give a title to this passage and say why you think it is appropriate. (2 marks)
Answer:
- (i) Leaders show empathy by understanding the feelings, needs, and motivations of others. This trait will become more important in Asian companies as they compete in a global market for managerial talent.
- (ii) Western European and Japanese leadership styles are collaborative and participative, involving consultation and teamwork. In contrast, Chinese leadership is more autocratic and task-oriented, with decisions made personally.
- (iii) Integrity is a complex idea because it is often determined by national culture. What is considered honest in one society may not be in another.
- (iv) Certain Asian cultures value self-awareness and humility in leaders.
- (v) Title: "Qualities of Effective Leadership Across Cultures." This title is appropriate as the passage discusses leadership qualities in different cultural contexts.
Pick out words from the text which mean the same as the following:
(i) crucial (Para 1)
(ii) the quality of being honest (Para 2)
(iii) done in an open way not–secretly (Para 3)
(iv) demanding that people obey completely (Para 4)
(v) quality (Para 6) (5 marks)
Answer:
- (i) Critical
- (ii) Integrity
- (iii) Overt
- (iv) Autocratic
- (v) Trait
Make sentences of your own with the following words:
(i) appreciate
(ii) displayed
(iii) people-focused
(iv) collaborative
(v) flexible (5 marks)
Answer:
- (i) I truly appreciate your efforts to help me complete the project on time.
- (ii) The painting was beautifully displayed in the art gallery.
- (iii) A people-focused approach often results in higher employee satisfaction.
- (iv) The team worked in a collaborative manner to achieve their goals.
- (v) She has a flexible schedule, which allows her to manage both work and family responsibilities effectively.