Influencing Leadership

Instructions:

1. How might lack of cultural dimension play a role influencing leadership?
2. Dirks explores follower trust in the leader-follower relationship. He observes that follower trust in the leader appears to influence the level of team performance. Explain why follower trust is important, and how it influences team (group) performance.

Abstract

The cultural dimension theory is a framework mainly for cross-cultural communication. It describes or determines the effects of society’s cultures and values of its members that how these values related to their actions by using a structure derived from factor analysis. In this report, we demonstrated the aspects of cultural dimensions that how they play an important role in influencing the leadership by evaluating the values of the people from different cultures. Then we acknowledged the follower’s trust on the leadership goals and objectives. Follower trust is important because if followers would not have any trust in their leaders, then they would also not be able to accomplish the desired targets or goals which is established or outlined by their leader, and it also influences the team performance.

Cultural dimension plays a role influencing leadership

The cultural dimension is a theory which helps to understand the differences between two cultures effectively, and it also helps to determine the values of people from different cultures. The main focus of cultural dimension knowledge is to describe the effects of the society’s culture on the individual or person with different values and beliefs. If an individual is unable to identify the differences between the cultural values of different people, then some issues might arise due to the low amount of acceptability and understanding between the two parties. The leader is expected to have a huge knowledge of different cultures and their members which are currently associated with him/her and must respect their cultural values and beliefs. Otherwise, the disputes may arise which would influence the leadership at great extent. The first issue which may arise is because of the reason that the leadership does not have any kind of motivation and charismatic factor that helps to understand each culture followers. Secondly, if the leadership also does not find the mutual ground or goals to connect the leaders or the followers together, then disputes conflicts may occur. The culture that is basically bounded to only one single culture then it will suppress the rest of the culture (Zhang.et. al, 2010).

Moreover, leadership which commonly do not identify the cultural values and beliefs, always face issues related to distrust. It shows that supremacy or influence factors are disturbed when the leadership is incapable of finding the differences between cultural dimensions. But if there are inconsequential changes related to culture, then there will be more probabilities of success because followers would show more faith and understanding, as well as their suitability and flexibility towards the people of other cultures (Zhang.et. al, 2010).

 Importance and influence of Follower trust on team (group) performance

The leadership and his/her follower relationship are based on the factors of motivation which helps them to work together to achieve their goals and objectives (Nurmi, 1996). It also maintains the suitability of each other in terms of culture and others things; as well as it displays the level of trust for each other. But if there is no belief in the leadership, then the followers will not feel secure and safe, and they will also be incapable of following the strategies and policies of their leaders. This indicates that follower trust is very important to achieve the specific goals of the team.

The follower’s trust in the leadership is also extremely significant aspect or a factor in a leader-follower relationship. But if the subordinate or follower does not trust his/her leader or supervisor then it shows that they do not have any need or admiration about their leader to work as a team. In other words, it will directly influence the performance of the team (Nurmi, 1996).

But if the follower has trust and belief on his leader, then it will also help to work collaborate towards the common aims and objectives which are outlined by a leader. They will also listen carefully to the leader and follows the commands that will automatically lead to enhancing team performance. (Nurmi, 1996) The follower trust enables a team to complete their jobs without rendering out any type of fear or uncertainty. It also helps to communicate and cooperate with each other without facing any difficulty. So, this influences the team to perform better and in a good manner. This kind of positive satisfaction in the leadership will lead the team in the exact direction, and it also decreases the follower’s apprehension and highlights their attention on the goals that they are predestined to accomplish.

References

Nurmi, R. (1996). Teamwork and team leadership. Team Performance Management: An International Journal, 2(1), 9-13. doi:10.1108/13527599610105484

Zhang, X., Cao, Q., & Tjosvold, D. (2010). Linking Transformational Leadership and Team Performance: A Conflict Management Approach. Journal of Management Studies, 48(7), 1586-1611. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010. 00974.x