The Influence of Culture on Leadership in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Portugal An Analysis in Light of Erin Meyer's Culture Map Model

by globalization, increasing cultural diversity, and the need to adapt to increasingly dynamic business environments. In this context, leadership takes on particular relevance, not only as an exercise of authority, but also as an influencing element of motivation, interpersonal relationships, and organizational functioning. This research analyzed the influence of cultural dimensions on leadership practices and employee motivation in Portuguese SMEs, based on Erin Meyer's Culture Map model (2014). This model identifies eight cultural dimensions associated with communication, evaluation, persuasion, leadership, decision-making, trust, disagreement, and time management, allowing us to understand how different cultural patterns influence organizational dynamics. From a methodological point of view, the study adopted a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative data collected through Erin Meyer's Profile Questionnaire, applied to 30 participants, and qualitative data obtained through 13 open-ended responses collected in an online form applied to managers of Portuguese SMEs. The data analysis identified different organizational trends related to communication, trust, decision, making, and leadership practices in the professional context. The results highlighted the relevance of interpersonal relationships, team proximity, and organizational communication in the functioning of the companies analyzed. The coexistence of participative, transformational, and, in some contexts, more centralized leadership practices was also observed, reflecting the diversity of organizational dynamics present in Portuguese SMEs. In terms of motivation, participants attributed particular importance to professional recognition, the quality of the organizational environment, and the proximity between employees and managers. The research allowed us to understand that cultural dimensions influence how leadership practices are developed in organizations and how employees perceive the professional environment and their organizational involvement. In this sense, the study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships between organizational culture, leadership, and motivation in the context of Brazilian Small and Medium Enterprises.