Page 10 - LBMAO - Reporter - Sept-Oct - web optimized

Insurance UPDATE

Provided by
morneau shepell

cross-cultural training is essential:

five things you need to know

ith the growing diversity and mobility of today’s that comments like, “I already speak the language,
Wworkforce, cross-cultural challenges and so I should be okay!” from an employee considering
opportunities are present in every work environment; or preparing for an international assignment can
you no longer have to be an international actually be a red flag. Why? Going from one English
organization to experience what have previously speaking context into another English speaking
been deemed global challenges. context can sometimes produce more intercultural
challenges than when going into a culture that has
Intercultural competence does not obvious differences in both language and cultural
"...don't treat come naturally. While some people behaviour. Simply, we don’t see what we don’t expect
may be naturally more flexible and to see, so often, with a person who speaks the same
people the way open to new experiences than others, language, there may be a subconscious belief that
you want to be intercultural consciousness is not they have similar priorities, values and work styles.
something we are born with. It is a
The reality is that the nuance differences can drive
treated. Instead, learned skill that comes from the the most competent and senior executive to feel like
real experience of interacting with they are failing.
take the time and somebody from a different culture,
acknowledging that the difference is Business travel to another country does not give a
make the effort to real and that there is something that full picture of underlying values, beliefs and norms.
really figure out can be done about it. Learning how to Building rapport with international colleagues
switch your own behaviour according through travel to their country is an important part of
how they want to to the cultural context of the person any international business relationship. However, it
you are with, or the context you are doesn’t provide the full range of experience of what it
be treated." in, is a first step toward intercultural would be like to live and work there full time, or what
competence. it would be like to manage that country or region
from a distance. Employees are driven and motivated
Knowing a foreign language (or two) does not equal by different things from one culture to another.
intercultural savvy. Knowing a foreign language goes
a long way; however you may be surprised to learn CROSS-CULTURAL continued on page 19...

10 LBMAO Reporter - September-October 2017 www.lbmao.on.ca