Multinational corporations are on the rise. In fact, they saw a 159% increase in sales from 2016 to 2021. While these corporations contend with time zone, language, and cultural differences, they continue to dominate the global economy. In fact, culturally diverse teams are 35% more likely to outperform less diverse teams.
With over 25 years of experience leading media, gaming, and entertainment enterprises, Wayne Borg knows just how tricky — and rewarding — it can be to lead global teams. The media executive has worked on five continents and visited over 100 countries, leading his teams to success in spite of their differences. “The world isn’t a homogenous place. There is huge diversity in cultures, in people, in understanding. What often is seen to be the standard or accepted practice in one part of the world can literally be quite alien in others,” he says.
Other CEOs believe in pushing for big, dramatic innovations on these global teams, but Wayne Borg takes a different approach. He breaks down his unique beliefs about innovation and shares how leaders can support out-of-the-box thinking for multinational teams.
Wayne Borg’s View of Global Innovation
“Innovation is an interesting phrase. I think everybody thinks it’s this big black box that you put everything into, and it somehow spits out the light bulb moment,” Borg explains. In his view, innovation happens through small, deliberate actions. “Innovation can be from very small incremental improvements to big, game-changing ideas. It’s really about encouraging the team to foster, to some extent, a culture of failure,” he says.
Business leaders have a reputation for drawing lines in the sand, but Wayne Borg believes global teams need support, not micromanagement. “Give people a safe environment that they can try new things and they’re not going to be penalized if those things don’t work out,” he says. “It is about setting the right context for people that it isn’t always just about the big ‘aha’ moment. They’ll come, but not every piece of innovation to qualify as innovation has to be that.”
Innovation is important, but it’s elusive for many businesses. Borg breaks down how his unique leadership style fosters growth for distributed international teams.
Listen and Act on the Team’s Ideas
“A lot of leaders feel pressure that they should have all the answers, Wayne Borg says. “The old credo was that leaders were meant to have all the answers, and that’s not really the case. We do operate in a team context.”
If leaders want their teams to create innovative ideas, they first have to be willing to listen to their employees. “Just like innovation and great ideas can come from anywhere, leaders should be harnessing the power of their team and canvassing, hearing people’s thoughts, and then making a decision,” he explains. Instead of treating innovation as a product of a single, visionary genius, Borg believes that most innovations come from small changes implemented as a group.
Mentor Young Professionals
Millennial and Gen Z employees are steadily climbing the corporate ladder. Leaders have to be prepared to mentor these professionals to not only develop international talent pipelines but to also encourage innovation. Diversity in culture, language, and especially age are the key to thinking beyond what a business has done in the past.
“The status quo doesn’t necessarily entitle you to superior thinking. Great thinking can come from any age group these days,” Wayne Borg says. “Develop [employees] in a way that they’re not going to fear not knowing. That they can grow into the role that they are coming in. Maybe not fully prepared as maybe a more established leader would be, but that’s the opportunity. That’s breathing new life and revitalizing and refreshing leadership thinking.”
Emphasize Soft Skills
For Wayne Borg, technical skills are just a checkbox. What he really cares about — and what businesses truly compete on — it soft skills. “I’ve always placed a heavy emphasis on talent. Not only the technical skills, but increasingly now, as you see, soft skills are the fore. Your ability to communicate, your ability to get on with people is vitally important. No amount of intelligence can overcome an inability to communicate your ideas,” he says. “The differentiator in most organizations today, and particularly in the leadership ranks, is the cohesiveness of the team, their ability to come together, to work as one because they’re communicating well, they feel safe with each other.”
Building a Culture of Innovation Across Continents
Cultural differences can certainly be a barrier, but for Wayne Borg, innovation is possible through active listening, mentorship, and cultivating soft skills. These practices translate regardless of which continent you’re on, especially in an increasingly globalized world. “Regardless of borders, the world operates pretty much as a single market now. That’s a critical piece for me,” Borg says. Instead of looking for significant achievements in innovation, multinational teams should focus instead on cultivating cultures that support growth in even the most volatile environments.
