Understanding Followers’ Critical Thinking Behaviors: A GLOB(E)al Perspective of Mid-Level Managers

The main purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the association between mid-level leaders’ perceptions of their followers’ critical thinking skills and leaders’ geographic location. Studies such as the GLOBE study provide the foundation for recognizing variation in perspectives on leadership behaviors. Yet there is a lack of insight into how the effect of global location on followers’ perceived effectiveness varies across areas like critical thinking skills. Using a survey to collect data, mid-level leaders at a global oil and gas company participating in a leadership development program were asked to evaluate their followers against the QUEEN Model of Critical Thinking. Analyses were conducted at both the complete QUEEN model score level and within each critical thinking skill category, using one-way ANOVA and post hoc testing. Significant differences were found in relation to where mid-level leaders were based, as defined by the GLOBE clusters. This suggests a need to provide mid-level leader training tailored to global locations on understanding critical thinking and developing this skill in followers.