wessam hazaymeh

Challenges are part of the learning and leadership development process when it comes to cross-cultural leadership. Without challenges, there is no motivation to push yourself out of your comfort zone. During my study abroad pathway experience, I was able to observe and practice cross-cultural leadership. I observed cross-cultural leadership far before I stepped foot in Athens, Greece. Even at its surface level, my study abroad pathway illustrates the cross-cultural leadership theory. Study abroad is an opportunity for students to explore and learn about a different culture all meanwhile navigating daily tasks revolving around academics, professional development and relationship nurturing. 

But it is what happens beyond the surface level which makes study abroad a valuable leadership nurturing experience. At its core, the cross-cultural leadership theory focuses on self-awareness of one’s one identity and privileges as a means to solve problems through embracing diversity, respect and a desire to learn. Study abroad experiences offer all of that to a student, but the leadership part comes into play based on how the student chooses to embrace the study abroad experience. My study abroad experience in Greece opened my eyes to the differences in American culture and Greek culture. Greece has more of a collective society whereas, in the United States, we have a more individualistic society. The values of the societies differ because of the way the country thinks as a whole. In Greece, time is slower. You are not rushed to do things, you enjoy the simple things in life like drinking your coffee, and you go about your own day without a need to prove anything to a complete stranger. In contrast, here in the United States, everyone is always in a rush and you drink your coffee while walking or driving. That was a big lesson. Greeks valued living life to the fullest whereas in the United States leadership looks more like a constant turning of gears.

In the case of my study abroad pathway, I was looking to compare and contrast values and how they translate into leadership. I saw my cross-cultural leadership skills develop in my classes and within my friend group. In classes, we had a mix of Greek students, international students, and study abroad students. In my marketing class, I was one of two American students and I observed that my first few days were more of me sitting in to learn how the class will work rather than immediately jumping in with my own input. I had to have that self-realization of “okay, this is the time for me to step back and learn before stepping out of my comfort zone.” Another class which opened a wide avenue of conversation that correlated with cross-cultural leadership was my management class. I vividly remember one class lecture about values, and my professor asked us to write a list of our own values, then we discussed our similarities and differences. The cross-cultural leadership theory was exhibited here because I was being a leader as I shared my own values and embraced the diversity of values of other students. My classes were an opportunity to learn and grow my own leadership because it was a more traditional learning setting. I was then able to transfer the lessons from the classroom to my travels around Greece and other parts of Europe. Greece has a more relaxed culture whereas when I was in Berlin, Germany, I felt the rush of a city. The values and interactions there differed greatly from what I adjusted to in Greece. 

Cross-cultural leadership was also applied in my study abroad pathway experience through the people I met. Whether it was fellow study abroad students or a stranger I met at a cafe, I was constantly having my own challenges to tackle in a respectful manner. One day, in Berlin, a man came up to me and my friends. We had a great three-hour conversation but throughout it I would catch myself surprised at the questions he asked, especially when it was politics. I remember him saying “I heard in American, you don’t talk about politics with strangers. I find that weird. Here, we are encouraged to talk about politics with everyone.” That was a major difference I recognized and I came to embrace the differences as I learned more from his perspective. 

Cross-cultural leadership can be observed and practiced in different ways. My experience happened to be a study abroad experience where I was put into a new society and learned through experience, but cross-cultural leadership can be observed in our own backyard by interacting with people different from us. A leader is someone willing to learn and push beyond the boundaries of his or her own comfort zone, especially for the common goals set by the leader and team.