GLOBAL OFFICE MOMENTS
A manager starts every meeting by asking about everyone’s weekend before discussing work.
Students answer with the concept (Task, Relationship, Process Loss, Attribution Error, Personality Trap, etc.)
What is Relationship-Oriented behavior?
A manager never smiles in meetings and jumps straight into the agenda without small talk.
CULTURAL MISMATCH
Why:
In task-first cultures (Germany, Netherlands), this = professionalism.
In relationship-first cultures, this = cold.
A U.S. tech startup launches an ad saying:
“Speak up. Challenge your boss. Disrupt everything.”
What is ignoring hierarchy / high power distance norms?
In The Office, Michael Scott often tries to use relationship behavior, but lacks this crucial leadership trait.
What is self-awareness or adaptability?
The team is confused about technical instructions.
Dial up Task or Dial up Relationship?
Dial up: Task
A leader sends a detailed project timeline with clear deadlines and expectations.
Students answer with the concept (Task, Relationship, Process Loss, Attribution Error, Personality Trap, etc.)
What is Relationship-Oriented behavior?
A leader publicly humiliates a team member to “teach them a lesson.”
Red Flag
Why:
Dictatorial behavior = universal negative (GLOBE study).
No culture endorses humiliation as effective leadership.
A global beauty brand runs an ad showing public criticism of a team member as “radical transparency.”
What is violating face-saving norms?
In How I Met Your Mother, this character believes charisma and confidence are enough to lead, but consistently ignores emotional intelligence and adaptability.
Who is Barney Stinson?
Morale is low after public criticism.
Dial up Task or Dial up Relationship?
Dial up: Relationship
A team becomes less productive because members feel misunderstood, not because the work is hard.
Students answer with the concept (Task, Relationship, Process Loss, Attribution Error, Personality Trap, etc.)
What is Process Loss?
A CEO insists employees openly challenge them in meetings, but the team remains silent.
CULTURAL MISMATCH
Why:
High power-distance culture. Silence ≠ agreement.
Leader misread hierarchy norms.
A Canadian consulting firm pitches only ROI numbers and data-heavy slides to a Latin American client, without relationship-building beforehand.
What is using task-based persuasion in a relationship-first culture?
In Suits, Harvey Specter persuades through dominance and logic. In a relationship-first culture, this style could be interpreted as this.
What is arrogance or disrespect?
Deadlines are being missed because expectations aren’t clear.
Dial up Task or Dial up Relationship?
Dial up: Task
A leader says, “I’m just a naturally direct person. That’s how I lead.”
Students answer with the concept (Task, Relationship, Process Loss, Attribution Error, Personality Trap, etc.)
What is the Personality Trap?
A manager avoids giving any negative feedback because they “don’t want conflict.”
Deadlines keep getting missed.
RED FLAG
Why:
This creates process loss. Avoidance ≠ cultural sensitivity.
An international CEO sends a blunt email:
“This deadline was missed. Fix it.”
What is an intent–perception gap / failure of cultural translation?
Marshall Eriksen moves to a highly hierarchical law firm and continues addressing senior partners casually. What cultural error is he making?
What is ignoring power distance norms?
The team feels disconnected and unmotivated.
However, performance metrics are technically being met.
Engagement scores are dropping, and informal collaboration has decreased.
Dial up Task or Dial up Relationship?
Dial up Relationship
It’s not a performance crisis, It’s a cohesion and psychological safety issue.
A manager assumes an employee is lazy when, in reality, the employee is uncomfortable speaking up in meetings due to cultural norms.
Students answer with the concept (Task, Relationship, Process Loss, Attribution Error, Personality Trap, etc.)
What is Attribution Error?
A team member avoids eye contact during presentations.
CULTURAL MISMATCH
Why:
In some cultures, eye contact with authority = disrespectful.
A luxury brand runs an ad emphasizing individual achievement and “standing out from the crowd.”
What is misalignment with collectivist values?
In Modern Family, Gloria’s passionate, emotionally expressive style might be interpreted as “too intense” in a low-context, task-first culture. This shows that leadership behavior is filtered through what?
What is cultural perception?
A multicultural team is underperforming.
• Meetings are highly structured with detailed agendas.
• Deadlines are clear.
• Roles are defined.
• Yet collaboration is declining.
• Team members are contributing less and avoiding open discussion.
The manager responds by adding even more structure and tighter controls.
Dial up Task or Dial up Relationship?
Dial up: Relationship-Oriented behavior