You can’t move to another country without experiencing culture shock to some degree. But we can prepare ourselves with cross-cultural coaching.
Living and breathing culture
When asked to explain the sensation of moving from our own culture to another, the author and expert on cross-cultural communication Dr Fons Trompenaars offered the following analogy: “A fish only realises that it needs water to live when it is no longer swimming in water. Our culture is to us like water to the fish. We live and breathe through our culture.”
Fish out of water
So, what happens when we move away from our home and have to ‘live and breathe’ another culture? It can, of course, be a shock – even for a seasoned expatriate or frequent traveller. We can easily feel like a fish out of water. That’s why cross-cultural coaching can be extremely beneficial whether you choose to take a course in the pre-departure or post-arrival phase.
Recommended for all ages
“I would strongly recommend cross-cultural coaching to any person, including children, who is going to live abroad, regardless of their international experience, or the country that they are moving to,” says Global Connection consultant Sybille Kenny. “Knowing how your cultural preferences and behavioural tendencies compare to those of your host country will help you to understand areas or situations where you can potentially encounter misunderstandings.”
A chance to grow
It goes without saying that entering a new cultural domain presents an individual with various challenges but ultimately expatriation is also an opportunity to develop your worldview and enhance your self-awareness. “We can only truly become aware of our own culture, when we leave our home country. By living abroad many of us will gain a greater awareness not just of ourselves but also of our whole cultural identity and cultural values,” says Kenny. “Expatriation can be a very enlightening experience.”
Confidence builder
“Cross-cultural coaching also helps you to recognise the symptoms of culture shock. We can’t expect all assignments to be plain sailing, so it’s important we know how to deal with culture shock when it occurs,” adds Kenny. “But often I find that cross-cultural coaching gives people a greater confidence when setting off on assignment and eases anxieties through the settling-in process. Think of it as learning how to dip your toes into uncharted waters.”
Photo: ‘b k’ – Flickr
