Abstract:

Modern conditions in which organisations operate result in redefining the roles of managers and emphasising the importance of certain competences. Attracting, maintaining and developing the best people, maintaining high efficiency, stimulating innovation, mutual adjustment of visions, strategies and behaviours, maintaining a work-life balance are becoming key issues. Additionally, other important aspects are: ability to act in a multicultural environment, readiness to continuous learning, high standards of behaviour, creativity and flexibility, aptitude to take risks. Leaders of multicultural teams must have, in addition to performing planning, organising, controlling and motivating functions, a certain set of qualities necessary to lead people, such as: tolerance, respect, empathy, openness, goal-orientation. It is also important to know the values and needs of employees, create an atmosphere fostering cooperation, be able to see culturally conditioned problems and re-evaluate one’s own cultural stereotypes. The aim of the article was to diagnose the differences in the perception of the role of leader of multicultural teams by respondents from Poland and Romania. The study was conducted using the method of the diagnostic survey with the CAWI  technique. Statistical analysis based on Mann-Whitney U test was performed on 2,240 correctly filled forms (1,183 from Bialystok University of Technology in Poland and 1036 from the Babes-Bolyai University in the Romania). The findings show that it is a serious mistake to assume that everyone is similar enough to each other to communicate effortlessly. Leadership in a multicultural team requires not only knowledge, competence but also cultural intelligence. The obtained results may serve as a basis for further in-depth research and analysis, and as important information in creating teams consisting of representatives of Polish and Romanian cultures, as well as selecting the scope of training for these groups.