"The most important competency for success in global assignments? Humility—being willing to learn how to succeed in a new cultural context."

* Paula Caligiuri

Paula is THE expert in this realm!

In this episode, I welcome Paula Caligiuri, a renowned expert in cross-cultural psychology and global leadership and author of many books about cross-cultural adaptation and career happiness, the latest ones being:

Build Your Cultural Agility: The Nine Competencies of Successful Global Professionals (2021)

Live for a Living: How to Create your Career Journey to Work Happier, Not Harder (2023, co-authored with Andrew Palmer)

I have known Paula for almost 30 years. Her research played an essential role in my dissertation which was on cross-cultural adaptation in expatriate work assignments. While I do not work in this area, Paula sure does! She has dedicated her career to research and practice on the psychology of cross-cultural adaptation in both the personal and professional realms.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to speak with Paula about the intricacies of cultural agility, the challenges faced by individuals working internationally, and how organizations can better prepare their employees for success in diverse environments.

Cultural Agility is the name of the game.

Our conversation is anchored by the concept of “Cultural Agility”, a combination of awareness, competencies, and experiences that allow individuals to be effective in multicultural environments.

Paula describes it as being made up of:

* Awareness: Understanding one's own values and how they compare to different cultural contexts.

* Competencies: The skills needed to enter a novel environment, learn it, and be effective. These include both relationship-oriented competencies (like perspective-taking, relationship-building, and humility) and personal self-oriented competencies.

* Experiences: Exposure to different cultural contexts, though Paula emphasizes that experiences alone are not enough.

Paula notes that cultural agility involves the ability to adapt and thrive in unfamiliar cultural settings. She emphasizes that it's not just about giving people experiences abroad, but also equipping them with the knowledge and skills to navigate cultural differences effectively.

Biology is a critical factor in adaptation

Probably the most interesting thing I learned from our conversation was the role hormones play in cultural agility because they can help individuals handle greater levels of novelty comfortably and effectively, and that those with higher cultural agility are often better able to adjust to more challenging cultural contexts.

Did you know that- elevated cortisol levels in response to cultural unfamiliarity can impair cognitive functions, making it challenging to interpret social cues and adapt behaviors appropriately.

Or that

The novelty of a new culture triggers the brain's reward system, releasing dopamine, which can enhance our motivation to engage and learn in the new environment.

I didn’t!

Adaptation begins with undertaking activities that put our chemicals in balance!

Assessment plays a central role in adaptation

I am not going to pass up the opportunity to talk about assessments. Paula has taken what she has learned and created the myGiide assessment, which measures cultural value and cultural agility competencies providing users with insights into their cultural values and biases, allowing for comparative analysis with other cultures and identifying potential areas of conflict or misunderstanding.

The assessment is free. I took it and found the insights it provided me super valuable.

myGiide is also an example of the role technology plays in cross-cultural adjustment

The impact of technology on cultural adaptation may surprise you.

I went into our conversation thinking Paula would gush about how technology has made adapting to other cultures much easier. But I was wrong!

* Technology is a "double-edged sword" for cultural adaptation. It allows people to stay connected to home, potentially reducing feelings of isolation. However, overreliance on home connections can hinder full immersion and engagement with the local environment.

* Technology should not replace real-world experiences and interactions. It should be used as a tool for learning and support. Excessive use of social media and video calls can become a "crutch" that impedes adjustment to the new cultural context. Direct engagement with the host culture remains crucial for successful adaptation because cultural differences are "exacerbated" in virtual environments due to the lack of in-person cues

Businesses must step up to help their expats be successful

When it comes to expat assignments, businesses should:

* Create a pipeline of culturally agile professionals through strategic talent management practices, including the recruitment, selection, and development of employees with the ability to work effectively across cultures.

* Assess bench strength in cultural competencies, not just technical skills, for roles that involve international or multicultural work.

* Use assessments to identify employees who are ready for international assignments or have the potential to develop cultural agility.

* Provide targeted support for employees on international assignments, including in-country cultural coaching and AI-powered tools like the chatbot in the MyGuide platform.

This episode’s Take it or Leave it? articles are:

"Global Mobility in 2024: Trends and Predictions"

* Summary: This vendor-published article outlines the changing landscape of global mobility, including shorter assignments, digital nomads, and the rise of technology platforms for managing mobility. Paula critiques the "nothing new here" approach, emphasizing the need for deeper cultural training.

"Thriving, Not Just Surviving: How Targeted Therapy Makes All the Difference for Expats"

* Summary: This article explores the psychological stress faced by expats and the importance of targeted therapy. Paula reflects on her early research into expat mental health, reinforcing the need for specialized support to help individuals adapt to new cultural environments.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit charleshandler.substack.com

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