The transition from the German to the American system was clear to me in theory. But only when I stood in the middle of it did I feel the full impact of the difference.
Hire & Fire is reality in the US, not a concept. Notice period: 14 days. Successor: eventually. The gap in between? An organizational vacuum you somehow had to bridge.
That was never my understanding of leadership. I had always ensured that a pipeline existed long before a transition became necessary.
When I took over a global organization, the reality hit even harder: a plant in the US, rural, structurally weak, unattractive for engineers and a pipeline that practically didn’t exist.
My American bosses grew impatient. A leadership change at the plant was overdue, and my own position began to wobble.
For almost a year, I worked on a solution. When the day of the carefully orchestrated transition finally arrived, my boss appeared: “Please postpone. I’m visiting the plant that week and don’t want trouble.”
My answer: “No. We go through with it.” A moment where you choose integrity over convenience.
The transition went smoothly. The plant manager was relieved, the team grateful, communication clear. Two days later my boss arrived, surprised by how quietly and professionally everything had been executed. In that moment, I earned his trust. Fully.
Some cultural differences are understood more deeply in the gut than in the head. Patience means something different in the US than in Germany, especially in the first year. I took the time to build a pipeline, but my environment expected a fast and visible reaction.
And the most important lesson: Trust grows through clarity, consistency and courage.
So now I wonder: Does “patience” mean showing quick impact to earn more of it or taking the time to do things properly, even when the system rewards speed over depth? Or what would be your defintion of „patience“?
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Strong intercultural leadership empowers global teams to work together with clarity, trust, and impact. In my book, you’ll find four actionable practices that will help you elevate collaboration across cultures. I am Bernd Scharbert and happy to support you.
The e-book is available at the online shop of Verlag Barbara Budrich as well as the print version. In German language, though, as I am now working on the English translation. The title: „Prepare for Landing: Leitlinien für interkulturelle Führung“ (Translated: Guiding Principles for intercultural Leadership).
