Shortage of Leadership
in Southeast Asia
R
esearch firm Gallup has uncovered a leadership shortage
in Southeast Asia. The 10 ASEAN member nations (i.e.,
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) need
to address this issue if they are to compete on the global stage.
As China’s economic growth slows, the Southeast Asian nations
need to develop more leaders in the region in order to capitalize its
economic growth. The region is projected to be the fourth largest
global economy by 2050.
To identify strategies that can help bridge the leadership gap,
Gallup and the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI) interviewed top-level business leaders in six ASEAN member nations.
The following are the five business strategies they have
identified to help the region develop more leaders:
●
Make long-term career plans but remain open to
possibilities. Companies should encourage leaders to assess their
progress approximately every three years and refocus or revise their
goals as necessary.
●
Go global early. Because cultural and language diversity are
among the common issues of leading in the ASEAN region,
companies should provide emerging leaders opportunities to travel
at different stages of their careers in order to equip them with the
needed skill sets.
●
Early cross-functional experiences and risks pay off for
executives. Companies should ensure leaders gain a working
knowledge of several different aspects of the business and have the
opportunity to test their strength in each area to show diversity of
talents.
●
Develop a deep professional network. Countries should help
leaders manage credible networks in their organizations that provide
guidance and support.
●
No need to “save face.” Showing vulnerability has proven to be
a key component. Companies that encourage this character trait
will build a culture of transparency and objectivity.
November 2015
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PULSE 13