Cross Cultural Management

Spanish Style of Management

 Spanish Management Style
• The style of a manager is of great importance. Much greater weight is
placed on personal attributes than on mere technical excellence.

• Key personal attributes which would be admired might be a potent

mixture of such issues as honour, courage, seriousness, trustworthiness
and the acceptance of the gravitas of the leadership function.

• Spanish managers have been described as 'benevolent autocrats' and

this can be difficult to accept for outsiders who are more used to a
consensual approach from superiors.

• The boss is expected to be courageous and consultation could be

perceived as weakness - 'doesn't he know the answer?'
• Instructions tend to be specific and task-oriented with detailed
explanations of how to achieve the end result.

• Mistakes will be commented on by the boss at the time they occur and
then not mentioned.

• Formal appraisal systems of the type in common usage in many other

countries are a recent innovation and not necessarily welcomed.
 Spanish Meetings
• Spain does not really have a meetings culture.

• Meetings are for the purpose of communicating direct instructions

from boss to subordinates.

• In more consultative style meetings, Spaniards, who are highly

individualistic, will express their views freely and forcefully which can
lead to the impression that meetings are almost anarchic.

• If agendas are used at all they will not, necessarily, be followed.

• It requires a very strong and skilful chairperson to keep a meeting in

Spain moving along linear lines.
• Lunch is the main meal of the day and business discussions and deals
are often conducted during working lunches — although business is
likely to be discussed during the later stages of any meal.

• The meals are often quite large with a number of courses and wine
being served. Try not to see this as ‘wasted’ time — it is an essential
part of the relationship building process.

• Do not be surprised to be taken outside the office to a coffee house

during the day. These ‘informal’ chats over a coffee are one of the best
places to build relationships and many of these ‘offline’ conversations
are the most useful for information gathering.
 Spanish Teams
• Individualistic, hierarchical and multi-active, Spaniards often find the
team role a difficult one.

• They frequently express 'jealousy' of colleagues and that is not a

healthy emotion in a team environment

• Teams, where they do exist, are more likely to consist of a group of

individuals reporting to a strong leader and acting on his instructions.

• Communication between team members might even be through the

boss to avoid confusion or duplication of activities
 Spanish Communication Styles
• Communication within Spanish organization is very often on a 'need
to know' basis.

• A manager will inform those that he feels he should inform and this is
very probably determined by strength of personal relationships.

• Departments do not, necessarily, freely communicate across

departmental lines, as any such communication is more likely to be at
a more senior level - peer to peer.

• communication tends to be predominantly oral rather than through

the medium of the written word.
• In Spain, if you feel something strongly, you show it. Overt signs of
emotion do not imply lack of conviction or bluster and should be taken
as the deeply felt belief of the speaker.

• The ability to use a large volume of language and a sincere manner are
key management tools.

• Humour is not used in very serious situations, where it can be seen as

lacking the necessary decorum.
 Women in Business in Spain
• Spain is, traditionally, a male dominated business society

• Although it is still unusual to meet women in very senior positions,

they are making rapid strides in middle-management areas.

• Foreign women working in Spain are unlikely to encounter any form

of gender discrimination.
 Spanish Dress Code
• The way you look is important in Spain and this fact is borne out by
the way in which people dress for work.

• Managers will invariably be very well-groomed wearing good quality,

well-cut clothes.

• The importance of appearance should not be taken underestimated - if

you want to be respected look the part! This applies both in formal
business settings and in more informal social situations