Intercultural Success

When do you smile? Leading a team globally presents challenges whatever your industry, whatever your location, whatever the team size and how experienced you are as team leader. A lot of the challenges and issues are the same whether you have team members from, only a few countries, one specific part of the world, or across the world. What can you do culturally to ensure that the team is more successful? One thing to consider is facial expression. Let’s look at smiling. Smiling is usually something involuntary and happens during your day in social and business interactions and conversations.  Sometimes, it is voluntary, for example when you are starting a presentation, about to deal with a difficult situation, or arriving at an interview.  What does a smile indicate to you? How many of these do you agree with? Happiness Acknowledgement Embarrassment Encouragement Disagreement Lying Anger Reward Disbelief Flirtation Friendliness Flippancy Hiding feelings What else would you add to the list? Frequency of smiling is something to consider. Does someone smile often in different situations or only in certain situations. Of course, it depends on who the smile is from, the situation and the location. However, culture is also a key factor. From my experience training and coaching groups, I have often used an example and then asked the people in the group when they smile in a certain situation. In this example, you are going into a room of people to speak with them.  So, you start at the doorway, walk towards the group of people, make eye contact, and then start to speak with them. You may also greet them by bowing, shaking hands, kissing, etc.  However, think of the example as four distinct stages, and ask yourself - when do you personally smile? To read the full article go to: https://lnkd.in/gmpnFzXx #leadership #teamwork #globalteam #training #culture

Leading a team globally presents challenges whatever your industry, whatever your location, whatever the team size and how experienced you as the team leader are. A lot of the challenges and issues are the same whether you have team members from only a few countries, one specific part of the world, or you cover the world. What can you do culturally to ensure that the team is more successful? One thing to consider is time. I don’t mean time zones, although this is always worth doublechecking especially as some countries have more than one time zone, and some switch from summertime to wintertime. I think everyone has worked out time in the wrong direction and invited someone to a meeting at 3 a.m. Recently I invited six Indonesians to a Teams meeting and one of them gently pointed out that it was fine for them but would mean I was running the session in the middle of my night! Depending on culture everyone has a different attitude to and understanding of time. There is a lot of theory and terminology for this, but let’s use an example.  Imagine that you are ending a meeting and asking everyone to feedback the information you need with a deadline, and you use the phrase: “Can you send me the information by next Friday.”  So, in your mind you know when you want to receive all the information, and then when you are going to review/collate it. In other words, you have a personal deadline and so when you receive the information from different members of your team, you will react and think it is early, just on time, or late. When you receive the information will depend on a number of factors – some in your control and some not. Let’s stay with timeframe. From my experience training and coaching groups of people, I have often used an example and then asked the people in the group when their own personal deadline for sending the information is. Let’s assume the business day is 9.00 to 17.00 and there are no time zones. These are how the answers varied -remember the request was 'by Friday'. (see image). You as the team leader will have your preferred time and so will consider some of your team: Early and sooner than you expected –positive. Just in time arriving on your personal deadline – positive. Arriving after your personal deadline and therefore late – negative. In this example, all members of your team have worked hard and feel that they have delivered what you, as the team leader, need within the timeframe. Your view of the situation is not the same though. The solution is to be very aware of how time varies culturally and also to be very careful with your request. In this example, the word ‘by’ has the potential to mislead. A better way would be to give a deadline and then explain when you are dealing with the information and if you need to present it at a specific time. This extra effort may save confusion and misunderstandings. Visit the Intercultural Success website https://lnkd.in/g_9ZhSJk #leadership #teamwork #globalteam

Spotlight on Making kindness your key to global intercultural success After many decades of working with people from all over the world and from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, I am left with one overriding thought. “Once we remove the cultural curtain or barrier, we are really all very similar.” When I am delivering training or coaching, this is a topic we focus on and come back to. On initial meeting or contact, culture can form a barrier, wall, or curtain. It can make it more difficult for us to understand each other or to work together. It can lead to misunderstandings, complete confusion, or something being interpreted as impolite or inappropriate when it is not. Sometimes on first meeting the impression can be that the other person is not friendly, or over friendly, or not engaged enough, or too assertive. This can be because culture is clouding each person’s perception and interpretation of the other. With a few cultural techniques and some understanding, then the barrier, or wall or curtain starts to fade away and that is when we can start to form a relationship and eventually perhaps a friendship. Then if there are further misunderstandings or confusion because of cultural difference, they will be solved quickly as we have a relationship or friendship as support. After all, it is always more difficult to offend someone who is a friend. Watching and learning How can you quickly move away from the cultural confusion? The short answer is to learn as much as you can but as quickly as you can. You can do this by watching and waiting and then finding the commonality. When you find the common ground, you will find the things that you can reference again. The things which in future will ease communication and grow your relationship. Another way of approaching and improving cultural understanding is to keep kindness in mind all the time. That means to give other people the benefit of the doubt, to accept differences, to realise that there may be reasons for something that you haven’t thought of. For example, someone changes your name slightly. This isn’t disrespectful, it may be what is the ‘norm’ for them. Perhaps they use ‘dear’ to address you. This may be a simple issue of translation. Or, if someone isn’t using their camera during an online meeting, then perhaps it is their internet speed prohibiting rather than their choice. Conclusion I think the key to forming working relationships and friendships across cultures and nationalities is to remember to be kind, tolerant, and to never stop learning. To learn more about intercultural skills go to: https://lnkd.in/g_9ZhSJk #kindness #culture #personaldevelopment #travel

Practical tips to think about before a global video call More and more people as part of their jobs are having regular meetings on Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, or other video conferencing platforms, with colleagues, customers, suppliers, business partners, and sales prospects from all over the world.  What do you think about before the call?  For me, this week the top four topics to think about have been as follows. 1.    Practicalities ·      Firstly, is the technology going to work for everyone who is logging in?  ·      Should I send out a list of the attendees’ names and job titles to the attendees. Even if I am going to start the call with introductions, a lot of people will appreciate the list as it is often difficult to hear names from a different language. 2.   Hierarchy Secondly, I consider hierarchy and its impact on who will speak and when.  For example, if there are three people from a company on the call with me will the most senior always lead and speak first? Indeed, will they manage the other members of their team and specifically ask them to speak on a topic or to answer a question? 3.   Clarity and understanding Thirdly, how will the other people in the call indicate when they can’t hear, don’t understand, or don’t agree.  Will I know immediately when there is an issue, or will they remain silent? 4.   Timing Fourthly, how quickly will the call start? I don’t just mean, will it start exactly on the time agreed, but also how quickly after introductions will business start. Will there be some ‘small talk’ and if so, how much, and who will suggest starting to discuss the reason for the call. What would you add to this? To read the full article go to: https://lnkd.in/gp7Xm3_5 #culture #team #personaldevelopment #technology #management

How to make your global team inclusive Thank you for the comments on my recent article – How to team lead across continents and time zones. There was a key theme in the feedback from people working in English speaking teams. Those members with English not as their first language had: the feeling of being not as important to the team; the concern that they were lowering the performance of the team; the feeling that they were not being considered for certain projects or responsibilities; the overall impression of being at a disadvantage. So, in answer to that, if you are leading a team or are part of a global or multicultural team, how can you make everyone feel included? If your team are a mixture of people working in their first language and people working in their second or third language, then how can you help them? Imagine joining a team where everyone else has English as their first language. From day one, there is a lot to learn and a job to start to excel at and all in a second language. When I am coaching or training, I often think of the quote about Fred Astaire (attributed to various people and requoted by Ginger Rogers; it originated in a 1982 Frank and Ernest cartoon): “Sure he was great, but don’t forget that Ginger Rogers did everything he did…backwards and in high heels.” That’s how it feels to be in a global team working in English, when English is not your first language. Even someone who has worked in English for some time, can still find it hard work. There are still things which are difficult to understand, confusing, or misleading. So how can you help with this? The key is to create space for all team members. To read the full article visit our website, InterculturalSuccess dot com . #personaldevelopment #globalteams #management #intercultural #diversity

How to team lead across continents and time zones There are always challenges in leading a team well, but what can you do to ease those challenges connected with geographical locations? This article focuses on practical tips and advice. This article could be especially relevant if: • You are a team leader, and your team is spread across continents and time zones. • A significant number of your team works in their second or third language. • There has been a recent change in your role. (For example, a promotion, a new job, an international move). • Your company has acquired another company.  • Your company has been acquired.  • Your company merged with another company. #management #careers #leadership #travel #culture https://lnkd.in/gXkQVEWk

12 Sure Strategies to Adapt Successfully to a New Country The Intercultural Success blog this week discusses What you can do practically to help the process of adapting easily and successfully to working in a new country.  Last week we started focusing on the topic with our article - How to adapt easily to working in a new country. There were a lot of questions about how to adapt once you are living and working in another country.  So, here is a practical guide with twelve suggestions. To read the full article visit the Intercultural Success website blog page. https://lnkd.in/eTgJCPhM #travel #management #personaldevelopment #relocation #culture #careers #humanresources #jobs

How to adapt easily to working in a new country How can you adapt easily to working in a new country? This article answers that question and focuses on practical ways to make your work and life feel more settled.   If you would like to learn more about how to work globally or discuss one on one coaching, book a half hour situation appraisal to discuss your needs with our Director, Caroline Gregory #travel #management #personaldevelopment #relocation #culture https://lnkd.in/gTMY-8UZ

How to present globally, clearly, and with impact Many people are working internationally and need to make presentations which have impact and are clear to their whole audience. So, how can you present globally with success? This article focuses on a technique to build a framework which will give you a clear and memorable presentation. #management #education #leadership #globalmobility #interculturalsuccess #relocation #presentationskills https://lnkd.in/gHXphqEa

How to use Your Honesty for Global Success If you look at someone who is successful globally and communicates well with all cultures, there is one thing which stands out. The one thing is their honesty.  They are honest in terms of being accepting and having humility. That means not being judgemental or assuming status because they are working in their first language, are from head office, or are from a supposedly richer or more developed country.  They are also honest in terms of being open to new ideas, new ways of doing things, and to differences. They keep learning and have permanent curiosity and interest. Honesty and Humility You can’t judge a team member or colleague or someone at an interview until you have taken culture, both yours and theirs, out of the picture. If you understand the culture first you will then understand the person well, and your business relationship will be more effective and successful. Don’t assume everyone globally is in the same position as you. For example, perhaps the colleague you have asked to work on an urgent project is not: Working with reliable and high-speed internet coverage. Able to access affordable internet when onsite or at home. Working with heating or air conditioning when it is necessary. Able to have access to relevant books, equipment, or membership of professional organisations. Able to speak, listen, and write in the language you’re communicating in with ease. Getting home early enough to have free time at the end of the workday because of working long hours or facing long travel times. Able to feel as confident as you do in asking for help or admitting they have made a mistake. Honesty and New Ideas It is easy to be culturally aware and flexible when things are going well. However, when the work situation is pressurised, it is not so easy. So, regularly remind yourself not to assume that yours is the right or the best way, or indeed the only way. Don’t assume you can’t learn throughout your career even if you work in the head office. Assume that you can learn from everyone – wherever they are from, whatever language they speak, however senior or junior they are. A useful strategy is to read the news about the countries and regions of people you are working with. Then, if something major has happened, you can either reference it, or at least be aware of it. Your conversation and business relationship will be better because of your knowledge and ultimately more successful as you will have learnt more and shown humility in this learning. If you would like to improve your intercultural leadership skills or schedule one on one coaching contact our Director Caroline Gregory https://lnkd.in/gDdTsqxa #management #culture #leadership #personaldevelopment #interculturalsuccess