A significant part of effective leadership is the close connection between the leader and the follower, which often determines the success of the leader’s mission. Unfortunately, this leader-follower relationship cannot be created according to some simple formula. Without inspiration, involvement, and encouragement from both participants, the relationship suffers. Leaders, in particular, must give an extra effort to reach out to followers in order to initiate and develop this alliance that is so critical to the achievement of goals. Young leaders of today face special challenges as they try to communicate and interact with their followers and potential followers. As a result of the changes that are rapidly occurring in the world, three aspects--globalization, human diversity, and ethical issues—are becoming an important influence on leadership, both on a global level and in our own neighborhoods. By exploring global perspectives, human diversity, and ethics, young leaders can take yet another step forward in their development and preparation for twenty-first century leadership.Globalization has many implications for leadership today and in the future. Earlier this century (and to some extent today), there was a tendency for many people to think locally: one’s hometown was one’s world. Currently, people are realizing that, although this point of view may have been common during that era, globalization is rapidly occurring. As technology and communication improve, barriers between nations disappear, exposing everyone to new cultures. Global perspectives are being spread to the farthest points in the world and to the most isolated people. People of different cultures come to the United States daily to live, travel, or engage in business. Not only that, American individuals and organizations are going to foreign countries as they used to travel to neighboring states. Globalization has become and will continue to be...
