Invisible Cultural Differences
Echoing Hofstede’s call to teach the “invisible cultural differences” that shape human behavior (Hofstede, xv), Alanazi and Leaver push the conversation further: they argue that cross‑cultural leaders must understand not only the cultural values of others, but also the transforming and conforming values of the people they are trying to influence. In other words, leaders need to know which values in a host culture are flexible—and which are sacred. This is where cultural relativism becomes essential. Seeing the Values Beneath the Behavior Most leadership failures abroad happen not because leaders lack technical skill, but because they misread the moral logic of the people they are trying to lead. Cultural relativism trains leaders to look beneath the surface: What values are people protecting What norms are they willing to adapt What beliefs are tied to identity, dignity, or faith What behaviors are situational rather than moral Without this lens, leaders interpret resistanc...
