Introduction
Leadership traits, competencies, and systems are pivotal to any organization’s success and even more crucial to those organizations that operate in global environments. Business leaders are expected to provide meaning and purpose, make things happen, and provide long-term orientation (Canals, 2014). This paper investigates the leadership traits of Coca-Cola’s leaders and relates them to theory. It also analyses whether the leadership traits evidenced by Coca-Cola’s leaders are consistent with building a global leadership pipeline. In addition to that, it explains how Coca-Cola’s leadership system supports global leadership development and contributes to the organization’s viability in the global arena.
Leadership Traits And Competencies Required For Success In The Global Environment.
Leadership traits and competencies are the personal qualities, skills, and behaviors that define effective leaders and are required to achieve superior performance. Various researchers have proposed and analyzed numerous leadership traits and competencies needed to succeed in the global environment. According to Gentry and Sparks (2012), “some of the most important competencies required for success in global organizations include resourcefulness, building & mending relationships and change management as they support cross-national convergence globally.” In addition to that, cultural awareness, ability to learn from experience, a global mindset, and building and maintaining relationships key global leadership competencies (Forsyth, & Maranga, 2015).
Relate the traits evidenced in the leader in your selected global organization to theories discussed in the literature
Resourcefulness, building & mending relationships, and change management greatly contribute to an organization’s global success (Gentry & Sparks, 2012). Coca-Cola has successfully adapted to and taken advantage of the opportunities such as technology and globalization presented by changes in the environment they operate in due to various reasons. First, Coca-Cola has resourceful leaders who can utilize available resources efficiently, be prudent and forward-looking. Secondly, the leaders are capable of building and mending as they cater to all stakeholder concerns in a way that provides a good environment for the organization to succeed. Finally, the leaders are well equipped in change management; they can adapt and react positively to any unfamiliar and complex challenges the organization may face.
Are these traits consistent with building a global leadership pipeline?
A leadership pipeline allows leaders to emerge from within the current individuals in an organization rather than searching for appropriate leaders elsewhere. To build a global leadership pipeline, human resource professionals should work towards building leadership competencies in line with positive performance on global leadership tasks (Caligiuri & Tarique, 2012). Leadership traits such as resourcefulness, building & mending relationships, and change management evidenced by Coca-Cola’s leaders are consistent with building a global leadership pipeline as they contribute to favorable outcomes in global leadership tasks.
How do the leadership systems in the organization support global leadership development?
A global leadership system is how leadership is exercised in a global organization; it also refers to the way decisions are made and implemented. Coca-Cola has a leadership system that includes all employees in the different geographical markets it operates in. Some decisions may be made in the headquarters, but representatives make most decisions that impact all employees from the concerned geographical markets. It does this to cater for the differences in culture and motivate its employees by showing them that their opinions matter. Global leadership development programs need to be aligned with the firm’s mission and strategy (Canals, 2014). Coca-Cola’s evident leadership system helps employees understand the organization’s mission and strategy, which, in turn, supports global leadership development.
Do these contribute to supporting the organization’s viability in the global arena?
For global leaders to effectively perform their roles, they need to have certain global leadership competencies that may include; cultural awareness, the ability to develop and maintain relationships, and a global mindset (Forsyth & Maranga, 2015). Among the main reasons that Coca-Cola has managed to perform well globally are its leadership traits, competencies, and systems. Good leadership influences people positively towards achieving organizational goals. Resourceful leaders who have good interpersonal skills and can adapt to changing environments can withstand harsh economic conditions with the support of other stakeholders in the organization, which in turn promotes the organization’s viability in the global arena.
Conclusion
In conclusion, as more organizations become global, their leaders must adopt competencies and systems that allow them to succeed in the global environment