ABSTRACT
Personal character constitutes the second critical dimension of global leadership. Many have been inspired by the often-quoted words of the US president, Theodore Roosevelt, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” By empathizing with people, leaders can significantly improve the quality of their decision-making. In one sense, a leader can wish employees well and still not understand them or their circumstances. Developing a deep understanding of others requires listening. Cross-cultural listening is always a challenge. It is made more difficult by the power distance that often separates a global leader from rank and file employees. Naïve international managers often mistakenly believe that everyone in the company thinks the way they do. Despite the best intentions, cultural and language barriers can severely restrict a leader’s ability to communicate more generally and to listen more specifically. A key to emotional connections is treating people with respect.
