Title: Global leadership and supportive stereotypes

Authors: Ciara Sutton; Lena Zander; Katharina Stamm

Addresses: Department of Marketing and Strategy, Stockholm School of Economics, Box 6501, 113 83 Stockholm, Sweden ' Department of Business Studies, Uppsala University, Box 513, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden ' Bernhard-Hunstig-Straße 15, 33102 Paderborn, Germany

Abstract: Using stereotypes as a concept is highly value-laden. Mention of stereotype use in the global leadership discussion is notably absent; aside from the extent they are overcome by competent leaders. In this paper, we draw on multiple streams of literature to conceptually argue why stereotypes and the use of categories by global leaders can be supportive and as such deserve recognition. Examining the content domain of global leadership from a group-directed leadership perspective, we add supportive stereotypes and infuse dynamic properties to further develop a model of global leaders' intercultural competences. We propose that global leaders not only need to handle (and overcome) negative stereotypes in interpersonal relationships as stressed in the extant literature but also can invoke supportive stereotypes when managing or attempting to influence groups of people.

Keywords: global leadership; stereotypes; power; intercultural competence; group-directed leadership; global mindset; cultural intelligence; social identity; categories; international management; interpersonal relationships; culture.

DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2013.056480

European Journal of International Management, 2013 Vol.7 No.5, pp.604 - 622

Published online: 10 Sep 2014 *

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