The spirit of international networks
The secret of the 3.0 leader's success is based on the ability to develop a sophisticated understanding of new realities and to learn lessons from unorthodox environments. International associations and networks are one of these environments. In the past, these voluntary groups of people, who come together to accomplish a common purpose, often had a tendency to pursue specific national interests and forget the global picture. However, in our knowledge-based society, this way of thinking is rapidly fading The true spirit of international networks is experiencing a rebirth Members need their help to be able to deal with Globalization 3.0. The geopolitical axis is shifting. The Western world is experiencing a certain fatigue. While still entrenched in the old ways of conducting business, it is beginning to realize that something needs to change When we go to work every day, we have the feeling that globalization is happening to us, while we would much rather prefer to be in control and understand what is going on.
What we need is a structure that can help us put our local issues in perspective that can make us understand how to translate global trends into tangible benefits for the part of the world, constituency or sector we are working in. In other words, international networks are the perfect platform where we can learn how to interact professionally with people from other cultures and develop ideas that will help us add an international component to our cause or business.
In the past, the work of international associations and networks was often limited to the representation of interests and the coordination of joint programmes. More and more networks are recognizing the importance of the new leadership role they are increasingly called to play. The confluence of today's global challenges is making them realize that they are being called to educate members about different cultural backgrounds. This applies to all kinds of international networks regardless of their area of activity. They don't necessarily need to have multiculturalism or conflict prevention as part of their mission. Their purpose might be to promote trade in a certain part of the world or to represent the interests of the manufacturers of a certain product. Today's global security concerns are adding an element of urgency to the agenda of any organization that operates internationally. We need each one of them to contribute to the creation of a new leadership style. We need them to help bring about a better understanding of the expectations and perceptions of different cultures.
In order to be able to play this role, international networks need to add new leadership skills and competencies to their structures. We can expect communication to be an important part of this change.