By Alison Maitland

 

 

A. David Weekley, Chairman of a US house – building company, used to think he was well traveled and knowledgeable about the world. Then he went to China on an international programmed designed for senior leaders.

B. “I found I had a pretty warped view of the world,” says the 55-years – old Texan entrepreneur. “When you reach a position of success, you’re often surrounded by folks who tell you you’re right about things and you often enjoy an elevated position of power and influence. This took me down a few notches.”

C. The visit was arranged by Leaders’ Quest, a non – profit organization that aims to improve the quality of leader – ship around the world by bridging divides between sectors and cultures. Mr. Weekley’s fellow participants included leaders from government, charities, business and academia in six countries. They visited Shanghai and then Chengdy in Sichuan province.

D. Interest in innovative programmers for individuals and senior teams is growing, says Leaders’ Quest. In spite of the economic crisis, the organization says it is receiving more requests for information than ever before. 

E. According to research led by Ash ridge Business School for a project called Global Leaders of Tomorrow, 76 percent of business leaders polled in 2008said senior executives needed more skills an knowledge to respond to trends such as climate change and emerging market challenges. But less then 8 percent believed such skills were being developed effectively.

F. Established and aspiring leaders alike can learn much from programmers designed to benefit and the markets they visit, from greater self – knowledge to broader awareness of other cultural perspectives and understanding of global interdependence.

G. For Mr. Weekley, the intensive seven days of discussions and field visits, which covered business, education, science, culture, human rights and the environment, was an eye – opener. The speed of China’s development left him feeling that the USA was, at least in some respect, being left behind.

H. He was impressed by the motivation of entrepreneurs and schoolchildren, but also troubled that China’s one – child policy meant each child had the undivided attention or two parents and four grandparents. “It’s very hard to be “other – centered” if you’re the centre of attention fox six adults,” he says.

I. Equally enlightening were his companions on the guest. “I got to see my own lack of knowledge as contrasted with their broader knowledge in a wealth, so it demonstrated how backward I was terms of my worldly understanding,” he says. “Being American, sometimes we think the world revolves around us.”

J. On his return home, he decided to act. He hosted events for nearly 100 Texan businesspeople to learn about Leaders’ Quest. So far, six have been on visits to Africa, Brazil, China and Russia.