The global economy has redefined the way corporations do business. While technology has improved the speed of communication, the success of global organizations depends on the skills of individual managers to work effectively with their global partners, colleagues, and team members. To this end, breaking cultural barriers to build trust, rapport and credibility is a critical leadership skill. A flexible, culturally appropriate behavioral repertoire and an atmosphere of trust, respect and inclusion are essential to successful global performance.
IBM's award-winning "Shades of Blue" is used by IBM to develop effective global teams.
Managing in IBM increasingly requires cross-cultural competencies. In a global, virtual, matrixed organization such as IBM's, we need to be able to build effectiveness across national, organizational, team and interpersonal barriers. Successful cross-cultural managers typically are flexible and possess a broad behavioral repertoire. Shades of Blue is a unique learning experience in developing cross-cultural competence. This program heighten our employees' awareness of their own cultural biases and increase their sensitivity to other cultures. It also introduces them to tools to help them move beyond their "Comfort Zone" and to enhance their personal effectiveness.
When they participate as an intact unit, the Shades experience is a powerful exercise that allows a diverse group to transcend cultural differences and become a high-performing team.
Shades of Blue allows IBM managers and their teams to:
- Appreciate the importance of multicultural skills in today's changing business structures and strategies
- Explore each member's cultural biases and their impact on mutual perceptions
- Learn why certain behaviors and communication styles fail in some cultures, and what to do about it
- Transcend obvious differences to leverage each member's cultural uniqueness for higher effectiveness
- Identify approaches to address cultural gaps that could lead to misunderstandings
- Discuss issues on team decision-making, giving/receiving feedback, and conflict resolution
The global diversity journey for IBM has just begun. Through its Shades of Blue program, IBM has demonstrated its historical leadership role in the area of diversity as a business imperative. For IBM, sustained implementation of its global diversity initiative will unleash the power of multiculturalism as the key to its competitive success in the global marketplace. |
