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As Europe seeks to position itself as a viable competitor in the global marketplace, the time has come to trumpet the strengths of European leaders - from an ability to work across cultures, to a flexible and consensual style.
A recent debate at Ashridge business school looked at what makes for successful leadership in European companies and organisations - particularly in comparison to their North American counterparts, from which so many of today's leadership models have emerged.
We ask what characterises European leadership, and what forces are driving the debate.
Kai Peters, Chief executive, Ashridge
European leaders tend to be consultative, patient - working with the organisation rather than telling it what to do - and very aware of the environment in which they work.
There's a breadth of need to understand, and successful European leaders have a solid grasp of culture in the broader sense - including history and politics - and a good ability to empathise with the audience they are working with.
You have to have something of the chameleon about you. The North American leader is driven by the homogeneity of the market.
Erik Swartz, Managing director, Stockholm Centre for Management Development
Why focus on commonalities? It goes with the whole idea of the EU. We have an area in Europe that we are trying to organise into some federal system.
Compared with federalism in the US, they have 50 states and a lot of forces that make it easy to act together in unity. In Europe, we have to establish that way of thinking.
Atle Jordahl, Director of international relations, Norwegian School of Economics and Business
Even if it can be difficult to find a common denominator for European leadership, I think that we have one important thing in common. That is the concern for the US management style.
I am particularly thinking of the 'one strong man' approach to leadership that is coming out of US government, companies and business schools; the lack of respect for context that many US companies and leaders communicate to others.
In Europe, we are used to living with multiple realities due to our long history with conflicts over territories, religions, ethnicity and ideologies; and the one-dimensional approach to life and business with a strong focus on profit. As Central and Eastern European countries mov
