• Briefly explain power distance
• How does power distance affect communication in either the workplace or college
• How have power distances personally affected you either as a leader or a follower or both (you can also interweave individualism and collectivism if you would like)
Power distance is a concept developed by social psychologist Geert Hofstede that measures the extent to which less powerful members of a society or organization accept and expect that power is distributed unequally. It isn't necessarily about the actual amount of power, but rather the psychological distance between those at the top and those at the bottom.
High Power Distance: Authority is rarely questioned. There is a clear hierarchy, and leaders are expected to be paternalistic or autocratic.
Low Power Distance: Power is shared, and people view one another as equals regardless of formal titles. Superiors are accessible and rely on the "expertise" of subordinates rather than just their rank.
In the workplace or a college setting, power distance acts as a "filter" for information:
In the Workplace: In high power distance cultures, communication is strictly top-down. Employees may withhold bad news or refrain from offering innovative ideas because "the boss knows best." In low power distance environments, communication is horizontal; a junior intern might feel perfectly comfortable challenging a CEO's idea during a brainstorming session.
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