English may be the language of commerce, but we seldom consider the ‘feelings’ for words across cultures.
The two most widely spoken languages are Hindi and Mandarin. Language at the office affects and reflects our view of the world. Surprisingly, a simple everyday word does not translate easily.
“Leader” is one such word. “Success” as well. The word “Failure” is interpreted very differently in the East and West.
The essence of leadership is relationships. In some cultures, a leader is an authority figure that directs; in other places, a leader is more of a coach who guides.
To an American, the word “Success” might be in the first person-singular. In many Asian cultures, success is seldom defined through one person, but many. Without the group, an individual cannot claim success, hence the Chinese saying “Without a network, one is no-one.”
Ask people in Asia about how they’ve “failed”. The answer is often complete silence.
Now let’s connect the dots and look deeper into how leaders are selected and chosen, a difficult task.
Is it made difficult because of the lack of talent–or are we using the wrong words?
I’ve interviewed many remarkable Asian women leaders, many of whom wouldn’t fit into Western leadership models. But all were leaders with unwavering values, motivation and drive.
When looking for the next generation of leaders, reflect on the words used in selection, steer a new path away from past practices, and listen to understand the values and motivations of the individual.
