I’ve interviewed hundreds of CEOs about the mindsets leaders need to thrive in the future of work. And one mindset that comes up repeatedly is what I call the global citizen.

As the world becomes more connected, it’s crucial for leaders to open their minds to new ideas and perspectives.

There are two components to thinking like a global citizen:

  1. Thinking big picture. In chess, players are encouraged to pay attention to all 64 squares so that they don’t miss an opportunity on the edges or their opponent doesn’t sneak up on them. It’s the same principle for leaders looking at the big picture. It’s easy to get tunnel vision and only focus on where the action is happening. But global citizens look at the whole picture to see new opportunities and understand the entire business, not just what’s in front of them.
  2. Surround yourself with people who aren’t like you. The most effective leaders surround themselves with people who don’t look or act like them and have different backgrounds and beliefs. Being around different people opens your minds to new opportunities and ideas for all areas of the business, from resolving conflict to launching new products and services. Don’t get into a leadership bubble where everyone around you is the same.

Traveling and leading in other parts of the world can build the global citizen mindset, but you can also do it from home. Build relationships with people on your team from other backgrounds and cultures. Be curious, ask questions, and take time to get to know people individually.

In the rapidly changing and increasingly global world, every leader must have a global citizen mindset. No matter where you are in the world, expand to a more diverse big picture to become a more effective leader.

I put together a video which talks about this in more detail. Please check it out below and if you want more content like this you can subscribe to my Youtube channel.

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