Politeness varies in different cultures, and so-called common courtesy may not be as common after all. One foreign national’s act of respect may translate as rudeness to another, and vice-versa. This is a nuance that the more open companies in Silicon Valley have learned. A global...
There’s no easy way to put it: global mobility managers must as a matter of habit hold the hands of their assignees (metaphorically speaking) once they start working in their new country, city, or region of employment. The process of communicating to an expatriate worker about...
What do the Japanese and Americans have in common? In general, both don’t like to appear know-it-alls. But there’s a difference, of course. The Japanese rely on teamwork and consensus. Americans appear only hesitant to display their intelligence for a moment but over time, know...
Do you really need to fully relocate a person or can they achieve the business aims using technology and attending on site in the country as needed? According to Davidson Morris, determining the key objectives of the assignment upfront to provide the necessary focus and criteria...
At the end of the day, you might be better off by creating your own travel first-aid kit, instead of just buying one from the store or accepting the one routinely issued by the office. First-aid kits, regardless of the length of the trip or...
“Experiential blindness.” It’s a phrase that is mostly known to neuroscientists, psychologists, and nerds. A Google search will lead to only a few results, with many of them dated back a few years and published in actual books and industry reference materials. However, it’s about...
The word immigrant has become a dirty word in an era where even primarily homogenous countries are opening their doors to foreigners. Bad news has also trumped the common knowledge that 40 percent of top tech companies were founded by immigrants or children of immigrants....
Half a minute of recogntion. That’s only 30 seconds. That’s all it will take to create a trickle of empathy that can boost your employee’s morale, which can then build into a shock wave that can deepen the connections that are the undercurrents that unite...
Coming to America, a foreign talent may wonder what the American corporate culture is like. Giving credit where it’s due is common in the States unlike in certain parts of Europe and Asia where the absence of criticism is praise enough. No one gives those...
Global mobility managers challenged to find top foreign talent have to add one more daunting task to the mix: how to keep their assignees’ spouses happy and fulfilled. The rules are no longer cut and dry, and partner or spousal arrangements have veered from the...