Perceptions of Leadership Excellence in ASEAN Nations

Behavioral statements about leadership excellence were evaluated for their importance by 289 managers from five founding ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand. Factor analysis revealed four factors: (1) Consideration for Others; (2) Progressive Stability; (3) Strategic Thinking; and (4) Trust in Others. Using the behaviors, a leadership excellence scale was created for each factor. Multivariate comparisons across nations showed Indonesia to have the highest and Singapore the lowest importance scores on ‘Consideration for Others’. The Philippines had the highest importance scores on ‘Progressive Stability’, ‘Strategic Thinking’, and ‘Trust in Others’. Multivariate regressions revealed ‘Consideration for Others’ to be the principal predictor of variables related to leaders’ personal qualities and managerial behavior, while ‘Strategic Thinking’ was the main predictor of leadership variables related to organizational demand and environmental influences. Results are discussed in terms of eastern (Confucian) and western (strategic) influences on the cultures studied.