What distinguishes a successful company from a less successful one? Of course, it requires products or services that meet market demands at reasonable prices. Beyond that, however, it is also about leadership, organisation and motivating the team, as well as communicating effectively with that team.

It takes a good leader – the captain – as well as the right culture. Together with a small management team, the leader creates incentives and a motivating atmosphere for open discussions in which everyone’s resources are brought to bear. Through their behaviour, the manager demonstrates that they are serving the overarching goal of the entire organisation and maintains a broad overview at all times. They defuse power struggles and minimise political manoeuvring within the organisation. Furthermore, they define a clear division of roles and decide when strategic changes – also known as paradigm shifts – are necessary. Everyone agrees to break down the overall strategy into several sub-strategies.

This scenario is more complex in multinational teams because cultural sensitivities exist there and present an additional challenge. For example, many Asian people tend to be less direct when formulating and setting goals, and at first glance often appear less proactive than, for instance, their German-speaking colleagues. This can lead to misunderstandings arising from false expectations. It is better to foster a respectful approach to one another that takes intercultural differences into account, whilst making full use of conflicts to achieve objectives effectively. 

„Diversity is an asset“ is the motto: this approach ultimately plays a crucial role in the success of sub-strategies and in achieving the overarching goal.

Team spirit – easier said than done:

Team-building is not a simple tool. A key risk lies in the differing rules of the game and motivations. These must be identified in detail and aligned with the overall objective. It is important that the results are attributed to the team as a whole, rather than to individuals. Existing conflicts and their resolution are seen as a necessary form of respectful yet goal-oriented communication on the path to success. Informal and direct, yet always clear, dialogue is helpful here. Added to this is an appreciation of different personalities, such as mavericks, specialists and generalists.

But how, in practice, can such a team spirit be achieved? 

Perhaps the following tips will help: 

• Structure: It is essential to ensure that all international staff are properly and consistently connected to head office, combined with a good education and appropriate training.
• Leadership: This should be adapted to the situation, be guided by the principle of „leading by example“, and be based on mutuality, or so-called reciprocity. A dialogue might, for example, begin as follows: „Please put yourself in my shoes. How would you act in my position to achieve our goals?“
• Training: In addition, all staff should be involved in international projects and participate in as many best-practice processes as possible.
• Authenticity: A good example of something with high potential for employees to identify with are specific examples of staff who have been both supported and challenged, and who have followed clear career paths within the company, both at home and abroad. Such examples foster a strong sense of identity and also provide an incentive for employees to follow in the footsteps of their promoted colleagues.
• Career opportunities: Concrete prospects for an individual’s career are important, but these are not short-term; rather, they are designed for the medium and long term.

Particularly today, in an age of global, rapid and sometimes even redundant communication, these aspects play a particularly important role. Motivation and leadership make all the difference! Particularly in the context of matrix and project structures, which are becoming increasingly common, motivating each individual and leading the team effectively are essential keys to success, enabling a lasting sense of „team spirit“ to be achieved.