Awareness is gold. When you’re aware of something, you can do something about it. D.I.V.E. tool can help you gain that awareness.
Are you experiencing an identity crisis?
In this article, you will learn: What is identity and how it’s formed How moving abroad can trigger an identity crisis What you can do to make the identity shift a more seamless experience Identity, even by definition, is the set of qualities and characteristics that describe a person and distinguish them from others. “Who […]
Culture shock – how to recognise it and what to do about it
I work with many people who choose to go abroad, usually for better career prospects, for the sense of adventure, for self-development, to make use of the opportunity… Some of them may already have an idea that culture shock is a ‘thing’ during an international transition. This usually also comes with some preconceptions of how […]
Looking after yourself as an expat – how to set boundaries
Moving abroad is a complex undertaking. It requires coordinating many aspects of your life and restarting this life in a new environment. You have to think about visas, taxes, packing your goods and moving them from one location to the other, closing up various things in the current location, find a new apartment, help your […]
Are your rules set in stone? – Universalism vs Particularism
Is it fair for everyone to get the same benefits, or is it fair to provide everyone with the benefits they specifically need? Are rules applicable to everyone, no exceptions, or is it ok to make exceptions for friends and family? Do all the commitments need to ideally be agreed in writing, or is it […]
Say what you mean and mean what you say… or perhaps not?
Do you say things as they are, express requests and disagreement without beating around the bush? Or perhaps you soften the message, expressing your needs and opinions indirectly? Does a person need to understand the context to decode your message or what is being said is easily understood independent of the context? Another cultural dimension […]
Avoiding risks and ambiguity can be culturally motivated
Do you plan thoroughly for plan A, B and C or rather go with the flow? Do you like to follow explicit instructions and procedures or are you comfortable with dealing with matters without much clarity? Are written documents and contracts important and biding for you, or maybe a verbal declaration can be as strong […]
Power distance – what does it mean to be a good boss?
Can you talk directly to your manager’s boss? Can you make decisions autonomously? Is the boss always right (even if they’re not)? Can you challenge your manager’s ideas during a discussion? Can you express your opinions in a meeting freely? Those and many other responses may differ depending on which cultural background you are coming […]
Individualist and collectivist approach
When talking about cross-cultural communications, you’ve got to consider cultural values dimensions. They are an important piece helping us make sense of all the differences and similarities we are experiencing, as well as give us the language to discuss our challenges. As part of your cross-cultural learning, I would love to introduce you to some […]
10 myths that impede your cross-cultural effectiveness
Another year, more experiences, new learnings… and yet, some cultural myths are still prevalent in our thinking, and stop us from making the best out of our international teams, work and life. It’s time to bust them once and for all! Here are ten most common myths I hear from people about working across cultures. […]