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Homepage > Business > Intra- and inter-cultural differences
November 14, 2019 In Business

Intra- and inter-cultural differences

intra-inter-cultural-differences-projectabroadblog

If people are not yet convinced to the idea of growing the cultural intelligence, they often discard the research and intercultural tools. They may say things like: “I get it, there are differences between China and the US, but aren’t there also differences within the countries?”, or “Yes, there are differences between regions and countries, but all individuals are different, so shouldn’t we be looking at every person separately instead of generalising?”.

These are valid questions, and I hope to shed some more light on the answers.

For many, the American colleague is just an American. And that’s fine.

As with anything to do with people, there is never only one suitable approach to management, leadership, team effectiveness, motivating. As much as people within the different countries have different preferences and personalities as well as life experiences, on the high level, societies clustered within one region or country actually are more homogenous than you would think.

The research consistently shows that there are statistically significant differences in the behaviours and values that people hold within certain societies, for example in China versus Poland or the UK.

If you grew up in the US, you are so experienced in the culture that the intra-cultural differences are very clear to you and they stand out more. For someone who has not lived in the US at all, the American person is “just” an American. For the purpose of managing the difference with their own cultural values, it is not necessarily as important to distinguish whether the person is a New Yorker, or southern American. It is enough if they know that they can expect people to get friendly quickly, being low context and that they will likely be expected to speak up and voice their opinions.

In a similar way, it is not crucial to distinguish between the differences across various regions of China, if you are not planning to immerse yourself in this market to that extent. It would be enough for you to notice that on average it takes longer to build trusting relationships in China than in the US, or that you may need to be more comfortable dealing with silence.

Cross-cultural competence comes from practicing new behaviours

Building cross-cultural competence is of course a bit about learning the specifics of research. But this is not enough. Actual competence comes from practicing new behaviours that you might not be that comfortable with at first, to enable to fulfill a bigger goal of effective cross-cultural working. It is about adding to your toolkit, so that you are more and more comfortable working with people who are different from yourself, be it within your own region or outside of it.

The important breakthrough that people experience when immersing themselves in intercultural learning is to realise that this has much broader implications than just working with people from different countries. Cultural competence goes beyond that. It is a set of capabilities that may help you work through other types of diversity as well, and build rapport with others. It is a useful perspective to have when you are a People Person in your organisation – be it a manager, team leader or a team member.

At one point in your career you will need to face working with people who have different ways of working. It may turn out that their ways are not consistent with the research about the ‘average’ Polish or American [or any other nationality] person. Don’t get attached to those descriptions too much. At that point, you can use your knowledge of cultural dimensions and your cultural sensitivity, to apply it in multiple situations, which include a degree of uncertainty or diversity. With time, you will be more and more fluent in determining whether something is cultural or not.

Cultural dimensions can help you explore a variety of perspectives, which you might not have considered before when working with your colleagues. A slight change in the methods you use in brainstorming sessions might generate more valuable ideas. It may be because you enabled more reflective and quieter people to express their opinions as well, which would otherwise remain unheard. Increasing effectiveness of working in diverse environments does not need to be about massive changes. Often just increasing your self-awareness and cultural sensitivity may bring you the desired results.

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Previous StoryWhen common sense doesn’t feel that common
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Author

Marta Zielińska

Hi, my name is Marta. I am combining my psychological, business and intercultural experience to offer advice on successful living and working across cultures. I believe that everything is possible for such an ambitious and talented person as yourself! With some exercises, self-reflection and new knowledge, you can grow your cultural intelligence and build a successful international career, mind and life.

Learn more

Recent Posts

  • Is moving abroad a good choice?
  • D.I.V.E. in with awareness or stay confused
  • How to stay connected with family and friends when living abroad
  • Are you experiencing identity crisis while living abroad?
  • Temporary move which turned out to be a longer-term international adventure – Claudia’s Spanish story

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It's important to remember that not everyone has lived abroad. This is equally relevant for expats and people who work with expats too.☝️⁠
⁠
👉If you're an expat, acknowledging this can bring more patience into dealing with intercultural challenges you encounter. ⁠
⁠
You may not understand all the cultural aspects of your new reality, but similarly, people around you may not be familiar with your background! ⁠
⁠
It can also give you more courage to share what things are like where you come from or to ask some basic-sounding questions about the new location.⁠
⁠
👉If on the other hand you haven't lived abroad yourself, but work with people who are expats, acknowledging this can help you be more understanding and humble towards people you work with. ⁠
⁠
For example, the amount of questions that seem obvious to you but the expat needs answers to, in order to understand the new context. ⁠
⁠
It also gives you the opportunity to reciprocate with questions and learn things that you may not even have know interest you about the other person's culture!⁠
⁠
⁠
So a question for you today is - what have you recently learnt from a person you work with, who comes from a different cultural background? 🤔⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
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It's important to remember that not everyone has lived abroad. This is equally relevant for expats and people who work with expats too.☝️⁠ ⁠ 👉If you're an expat, acknowledging this can bring more patience into dealing with intercultural challenges you encounter. ⁠ ⁠ You may not understand all the cultural aspects of your new reality, but similarly, people around you may not be familiar with your background! ⁠ ⁠ It can also give you more courage to share what things are like where you come from or to ask some basic-sounding questions about the new location.⁠ ⁠ 👉If on the other hand you haven't lived abroad yourself, but work with people who are expats, acknowledging this can help you be more understanding and humble towards people you work with. ⁠ ⁠ For example, the amount of questions that seem obvious to you but the expat needs answers to, in order to understand the new context. ⁠ ⁠ It also gives you the opportunity to reciprocate with questions and learn things that you may not even have know interest you about the other person's culture!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ So a question for you today is - what have you recently learnt from a person you work with, who comes from a different cultural background? 🤔⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
2 days ago
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Oh the summertime... (for us in the northern hemisphere at least!)⁠
⁠
Nice holidays, visiting new places, soaking in the sun, or the mountains or wherever you like to relax... ⁠
⁠
Or... wait. But what if we have to choose between visiting home and going someplace new for holidays? What if we only get the 4 weeks of time off work and that's it? ⁠🤷‍♀️😞
⁠
Have you ever felt the guilt when choosing a new holiday destination instead of spending that extra week back home with family? Or worse, have you ever heard comments from your family that made you feel guilty of that?⁠🙄
⁠
Well, for many of us it's the reality of life abroad. And it's tough. But it's also about choices and setting expectations. ⁠
⁠
One thing to remember is that phones work both ways, planes fly both directions too. You don't always need to be the one making the tough choices. ⁠
⁠
I get it, there are people who can't make the trip, maybe they're ill etc. But it's likely not all of your friends and family back home ☺️ You don’t need to take the whole blame. 

Share it with someone who may need that reminder today! 🤩
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #settingboundaries #selfhelp #selfcare
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Oh the summertime... (for us in the northern hemisphere at least!)⁠ ⁠ Nice holidays, visiting new places, soaking in the sun, or the mountains or wherever you like to relax... ⁠ ⁠ Or... wait. But what if we have to choose between visiting home and going someplace new for holidays? What if we only get the 4 weeks of time off work and that's it? ⁠🤷‍♀️😞 ⁠ Have you ever felt the guilt when choosing a new holiday destination instead of spending that extra week back home with family? Or worse, have you ever heard comments from your family that made you feel guilty of that?⁠🙄 ⁠ Well, for many of us it's the reality of life abroad. And it's tough. But it's also about choices and setting expectations. ⁠ ⁠ One thing to remember is that phones work both ways, planes fly both directions too. You don't always need to be the one making the tough choices. ⁠ ⁠ I get it, there are people who can't make the trip, maybe they're ill etc. But it's likely not all of your friends and family back home ☺️ You don’t need to take the whole blame. Share it with someone who may need that reminder today! 🤩 ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #settingboundaries #selfhelp #selfcare
4 days ago
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2/9
When we move abroad, often we experience an overwhelm of emotions and personal transformations. With a new job or role we've taken on as well, we want to perform and prove that leadership made the right choice in offering us this assignment abroad. ⁠
⁠
Ooph! High stakes. 😬⁠
⁠
But when we're unfamiliar with the new culture and/or didn't work on our cultural competences much before, we're likely to see a dip in our productivity. ⁠
⁠
And worse - we may get annoyed at ourselves and put even more pressure on, thinking we SHOULD be able to handle this. ⁠
⁠
Sounds familiar? 🙈⁠
⁠
Well, I'd say it's unreasonable, and maybe even dangerous to expect that you would be performing at equally high level in such a transitional time impacting your mental wellbeing. ⁠
⁠
👉The key is to re-calibrate what success looks like. ⁠
⁠
🤷‍♀️Maybe it's a success that you've completed a meeting in a whole new language without needing a translator. ⁠
⁠
🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you've simply delivered on the basics of what was expected of you. ⁠
⁠
🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you have gotten out of bed (if it's that bad though, make sure to seek professional help when needed!). ⁠
⁠
"Cut yourself some slack", as they say, and adjust your expectations to the context. Life will get so much easier that way and you'll create the breathing space for you to learn, soak in the new experiences and grow!⁠

📬Sign up to the newsletter to download a workbook which will help you set your goals in the broader context of your needs in the life abroad. 
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
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When we move abroad, often we experience an overwhelm of emotions and personal transformations. With a new job or role we've taken on as well, we want to perform and prove that leadership made the right choice in offering us this assignment abroad. ⁠ ⁠ Ooph! High stakes. 😬⁠ ⁠ But when we're unfamiliar with the new culture and/or didn't work on our cultural competences much before, we're likely to see a dip in our productivity. ⁠ ⁠ And worse - we may get annoyed at ourselves and put even more pressure on, thinking we SHOULD be able to handle this. ⁠ ⁠ Sounds familiar? 🙈⁠ ⁠ Well, I'd say it's unreasonable, and maybe even dangerous to expect that you would be performing at equally high level in such a transitional time impacting your mental wellbeing. ⁠ ⁠ 👉The key is to re-calibrate what success looks like. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Maybe it's a success that you've completed a meeting in a whole new language without needing a translator. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you've simply delivered on the basics of what was expected of you. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you have gotten out of bed (if it's that bad though, make sure to seek professional help when needed!). ⁠ ⁠ "Cut yourself some slack", as they say, and adjust your expectations to the context. Life will get so much easier that way and you'll create the breathing space for you to learn, soak in the new experiences and grow!⁠ 📬Sign up to the newsletter to download a workbook which will help you set your goals in the broader context of your needs in the life abroad. ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
1 week ago
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#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
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#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
2 weeks ago
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4/9
What's cultural intelligence? In short, it's an ability to be effective in various cultural contexts. To do that you need four competences:⁠
👍Openness to a different perspective (CQ Drive)⁠
👍Understanding of that other perspective (CQ Knowledge)⁠
👍Strategy to work together in spite of the differences (CQ Strategy)⁠
👍Flexibility to stick with our core and not losing ourselves in the process while also being effective and achieving the set goals (CQ Action)⁠
⁠
So - what can this look like in practice? ⁠
⁠
One of my coachees was Chinese and moved to the UK. He was challenged by the pace of the conversation here and the lack of space for him to speak up in meetings. The feedback he quickly started getting was that he needs to speak up more in meetings and contribute. ⁠
⁠
Was it that he was unable to contribute ideas or literally speak up? 🤷No. It was more around the level of comfort, feeling that it's "wrong" to interrupt others or not to leave space before when one person speaks and the other starts. It was an internal struggle. So while it sound like a simple "just speak up!" 🙄solution, when we talk about intercultural adaptation, a lot of internal work goes into it. ⁠
⁠
How did he overcome his challenge? 🤔⁠
⁠
He was motivated to exploring the UK culture and learning more (Drive) and admitting that it's not 'stupid' or 'weird' but simply a different normal. ⁠
⁠
He learnt about cultural dimensions that may be at play here eg. hierarchy, directness of communication (Knowledge). ⁠
⁠
Then he planned for the next meeting and thought of ideas on how he can achieve his goal without compromising who he is (Strategy) ⁠
⁠
During the meeting decided to adapt some of his behaviours through taking the role of a scribe in a meeting.  This made him more comfortable to jump into the conversation while clarifying someone else's point when writing it down and adding some of his thoughts, since he already had the voice (Action). ⁠
⁠
Want to be more confident and comfortable when working across cultures? Follow for more!
projectabroadblog
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What's cultural intelligence? In short, it's an ability to be effective in various cultural contexts. To do that you need four competences:⁠ 👍Openness to a different perspective (CQ Drive)⁠ 👍Understanding of that other perspective (CQ Knowledge)⁠ 👍Strategy to work together in spite of the differences (CQ Strategy)⁠ 👍Flexibility to stick with our core and not losing ourselves in the process while also being effective and achieving the set goals (CQ Action)⁠ ⁠ So - what can this look like in practice? ⁠ ⁠ One of my coachees was Chinese and moved to the UK. He was challenged by the pace of the conversation here and the lack of space for him to speak up in meetings. The feedback he quickly started getting was that he needs to speak up more in meetings and contribute. ⁠ ⁠ Was it that he was unable to contribute ideas or literally speak up? 🤷No. It was more around the level of comfort, feeling that it's "wrong" to interrupt others or not to leave space before when one person speaks and the other starts. It was an internal struggle. So while it sound like a simple "just speak up!" 🙄solution, when we talk about intercultural adaptation, a lot of internal work goes into it. ⁠ ⁠ How did he overcome his challenge? 🤔⁠ ⁠ He was motivated to exploring the UK culture and learning more (Drive) and admitting that it's not 'stupid' or 'weird' but simply a different normal. ⁠ ⁠ He learnt about cultural dimensions that may be at play here eg. hierarchy, directness of communication (Knowledge). ⁠ ⁠ Then he planned for the next meeting and thought of ideas on how he can achieve his goal without compromising who he is (Strategy) ⁠ ⁠ During the meeting decided to adapt some of his behaviours through taking the role of a scribe in a meeting. This made him more comfortable to jump into the conversation while clarifying someone else's point when writing it down and adding some of his thoughts, since he already had the voice (Action). ⁠ ⁠ Want to be more confident and comfortable when working across cultures? Follow for more!
2 weeks ago
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5/9
It's a question I was asking myself when I first moved abroad. Why?⁠
⁠
I moved to the UK together with my (also Polish) partner. The caveat initially though was that he couldn't move at the same time I did 🤷 and we were apart for just over a month before he could join me here. ⁠
⁠
A month may not sound like a lot of time, especially now that we have the context of the pandemic where I've seen many people be apart from their loved ones, partners and families for sooo much longer. ⁠
⁠
For me at the time though it was a lot and quite an overwhelming time. ⁠
We haven't been apart for that long ever since we started our relationship 4 years before. It was a vulnerable time because I was already going through the transition and adaptation, also juggling the logistics of moving and setting myself up as well as a new intense job. 

And all the emotional rollercoaster too of course. 

It was hard to explain in words sometimes but we tried to talk 'live' every day to stay connected. ⁠
⁠
I was asking myself - will we be able to go through that? How will this experience impact us? ⁠
⁠
And then he joined! What a joy! 😅 Well... those first few months were tough, because we were on different adaptation timelines! By the time he arrived I already have gone through some of the ups and downs and shocks and surprises and adaptations. Now he had his adaptation time himself. 🙈 It took us a good few months to align a bit and regulate our emotions.⁠
⁠
Spoiler alert: We made it through :)⁠
⁠
Each moving story is different. That's why I like hearing from you in conversations how you felt and how your move was. To learn different perspectives. To learn about your challenges. And to find solutions and ways forward together. ⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #polishcouple
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It's a question I was asking myself when I first moved abroad. Why?⁠ ⁠ I moved to the UK together with my (also Polish) partner. The caveat initially though was that he couldn't move at the same time I did 🤷 and we were apart for just over a month before he could join me here. ⁠ ⁠ A month may not sound like a lot of time, especially now that we have the context of the pandemic where I've seen many people be apart from their loved ones, partners and families for sooo much longer. ⁠ ⁠ For me at the time though it was a lot and quite an overwhelming time. ⁠ We haven't been apart for that long ever since we started our relationship 4 years before. It was a vulnerable time because I was already going through the transition and adaptation, also juggling the logistics of moving and setting myself up as well as a new intense job. And all the emotional rollercoaster too of course. It was hard to explain in words sometimes but we tried to talk 'live' every day to stay connected. ⁠ ⁠ I was asking myself - will we be able to go through that? How will this experience impact us? ⁠ ⁠ And then he joined! What a joy! 😅 Well... those first few months were tough, because we were on different adaptation timelines! By the time he arrived I already have gone through some of the ups and downs and shocks and surprises and adaptations. Now he had his adaptation time himself. 🙈 It took us a good few months to align a bit and regulate our emotions.⁠ ⁠ Spoiler alert: We made it through :)⁠ ⁠ Each moving story is different. That's why I like hearing from you in conversations how you felt and how your move was. To learn different perspectives. To learn about your challenges. And to find solutions and ways forward together. ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #polishcouple
3 weeks ago
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6/9
Not all bestsellers are great books, in my opinion. But this one? 100 times yes! This book made a huge impact on me and encouraged me to pursue the interest I had. 🤩⁠
⁠
In the later years of my (psychology) Masters degree I got interested in the intercultural psychology field. I've done my fair bit of reading and digging into it, and straight after finishing my studies I moved abroad to experience the expat life and more cultural diversity on my own skin. ⁠
⁠
During one of my first trips back home after moving, I noticed this book on the display (granted, marketers did a great job choosing the bright yellow for the cover 😄), read the description, bought it, and read it in no time. ⁠
⁠
What made such an impact on me was that it was full of practical, business examples on how increasing that self-awareness and expanding our toolkits can massively help us communicate and collaborate across cultures. 👉 With less frustration, with less misunderstandings, with more confidence and more fun! ⁠
⁠
It was not one of those research documents or hefty manuals I've encountered before, which were very academic and super interesting, but I wasn't sure how I can apply this to the business world.⁠
⁠
As I was reading the book, I was also reflecting on my own early experiences of moving abroad and entering a full British working environment. That made me put the two and two together, and I knew I wanted to pursue this topic and share those and further insights with other expats to help them feel more confident and comfortable when working across cultures as well. Project Abroad was born and the rest is history ☺️
⁠
🥰 What's a book that made and impact on your life recently? 🥰⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #careerdevelopment #careerabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
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Not all bestsellers are great books, in my opinion. But this one? 100 times yes! This book made a huge impact on me and encouraged me to pursue the interest I had. 🤩⁠ ⁠ In the later years of my (psychology) Masters degree I got interested in the intercultural psychology field. I've done my fair bit of reading and digging into it, and straight after finishing my studies I moved abroad to experience the expat life and more cultural diversity on my own skin. ⁠ ⁠ During one of my first trips back home after moving, I noticed this book on the display (granted, marketers did a great job choosing the bright yellow for the cover 😄), read the description, bought it, and read it in no time. ⁠ ⁠ What made such an impact on me was that it was full of practical, business examples on how increasing that self-awareness and expanding our toolkits can massively help us communicate and collaborate across cultures. 👉 With less frustration, with less misunderstandings, with more confidence and more fun! ⁠ ⁠ It was not one of those research documents or hefty manuals I've encountered before, which were very academic and super interesting, but I wasn't sure how I can apply this to the business world.⁠ ⁠ As I was reading the book, I was also reflecting on my own early experiences of moving abroad and entering a full British working environment. That made me put the two and two together, and I knew I wanted to pursue this topic and share those and further insights with other expats to help them feel more confident and comfortable when working across cultures as well. Project Abroad was born and the rest is history ☺️ ⁠ 🥰 What's a book that made and impact on your life recently? 🥰⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #careerdevelopment #careerabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
4 weeks ago
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7/9
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
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If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠ ⁠ It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠ 🤩Emotional regulation⁠ 🤩Impulse control⁠ 🤩Optimism⁠ 🤩Causal analysis⁠ 🤩Empathy⁠ 🤩Self-efficacy⁠ 🤩Reaching out⁠ ⁠ Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠ Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠ ⁠ Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠ 💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠ 💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠ 💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠ ⁠ ⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Speaking the language with ease. Oh the dream!⁠
#mayonthemove2022 ⁠
⁠
When I was moving to the UK I thought I was speaking good English already. “I’m good at English” was a part of my identity… “If anything will be challenging for me during this move” I thought, “it will not be the language” ⁠
⁠
Could I be more wrong? 🙄🙄🙄⁠
⁠
When I came out of the Luton Airport terminal, ready for my adventure, I couldn’t find the right bus to take me to the city. So I asked a member of staff where I can find it. From her answer I only understood “show”, “ticket” and saw her pointing her finger in the direction of the bus bay. ⁠
I found the bus, got on, and understood maybe 50% of the instructions the bus driver gave. ⁠
⁠
New accents: 1 - Marta: 0 😭⁠
⁠
With tears in my eyes, I continued the journey to my new home...⁠
⁠
At that point I wished I could speak English with ease. But I defined what that means incorrectly. ⁠
⁠
It wasn’t about not making mistakes or pretending I understood all that’s being said. ⁠
⁠
It really was about mindset work that needed to happen. To understand that I don’t need to have all the words, that as long as I manage to communicate it doesn’t always matter if I make a mistake, that I can ask for explanation, that if I put myself at ease a bit more and take off the pressure I can have a better experience overall. ⁠
⁠
Do you feel like you’re able to speak a non-native language at ease? What made you reach that “at ease” stage, if you have already?⁠
⁠
#expatlife #learninglanguages #expatchallenges #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #fittingin #speakinglanguages #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #selfawareness #growthmindset #mindsetwork #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #culturalawareness
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
Speaking the language with ease. Oh the dream!⁠ #mayonthemove2022 ⁠ ⁠ When I was moving to the UK I thought I was speaking good English already. “I’m good at English” was a part of my identity… “If anything will be challenging for me during this move” I thought, “it will not be the language” ⁠ ⁠ Could I be more wrong? 🙄🙄🙄⁠ ⁠ When I came out of the Luton Airport terminal, ready for my adventure, I couldn’t find the right bus to take me to the city. So I asked a member of staff where I can find it. From her answer I only understood “show”, “ticket” and saw her pointing her finger in the direction of the bus bay. ⁠ I found the bus, got on, and understood maybe 50% of the instructions the bus driver gave. ⁠ ⁠ New accents: 1 - Marta: 0 😭⁠ ⁠ With tears in my eyes, I continued the journey to my new home...⁠ ⁠ At that point I wished I could speak English with ease. But I defined what that means incorrectly. ⁠ ⁠ It wasn’t about not making mistakes or pretending I understood all that’s being said. ⁠ ⁠ It really was about mindset work that needed to happen. To understand that I don’t need to have all the words, that as long as I manage to communicate it doesn’t always matter if I make a mistake, that I can ask for explanation, that if I put myself at ease a bit more and take off the pressure I can have a better experience overall. ⁠ ⁠ Do you feel like you’re able to speak a non-native language at ease? What made you reach that “at ease” stage, if you have already?⁠ ⁠ #expatlife #learninglanguages #expatchallenges #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #fittingin #speakinglanguages #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #selfawareness #growthmindset #mindsetwork #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #culturalawareness
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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