Last month I wrote about mindfulness – how it can help us in a volatile, uncertain, ambiguous and changing world.
Mindfulness is also a critical component of cultural intelligence. If you are living or working in a different culture or working with people from different cultural backgrounds it will be helpful for you. So let’s look at what mindfulness is and consider how it relates to cultural intelligence.
Many in Australia have been watching the US Presidential election race with bemusement. Some have been watching with anxiety and fear.
As a potential future leader of America, Donald Trump adds to many people’s increasing feelings of uncertainty. News of Brexit, terrorism and the refugee crisis presents a world that appears more volatile and chaotic.
Add in a changing job market (increasing use of artificial intelligence in the workplace, greater diversity in gender, age and ethnic background), and the constant demands that the 24/7 connected world brings - its no wonder the uncertainty increases.
Volatility, uncertainty, chaos and ambiguity – the acronym VUCA describes what many people are experiencing.
There are excellent business models that help plan for business continuity through VUCA but what are the personal skills that can help take the focus from the apparently growing craziness, the constant overwhelm of tasks, or the complexities of managing in a diverse global world?
We know a lot about the brain, about how it learns and how it embeds the learning, building new neural patterns and pathways as it does so. We know the optimal conditions for learning to be retained and remembered.
We know that this is exactly what expats need. To learn fast- and to retain the learning.
It’s continuous learning over a whole range of aspects. From day-to-day learning like new currencies and driving rules, to spatial learning – creating the mental maps to orient themselves in their new environment, to language learning and different styles of communication, to work effectiveness with adaptations to management styles, appropriate ways to lead, influence and relate with each level of the organization – so much to learn!
The beginning of an expat assignment is continuous, non-stop, learning.
But it’s not just absorbing content –it’s also having the insight to recognise when to adapt and when to operate as you might at home.
Neuroscience has uncovered some of the optimal conditions for learning to be retained and remembered. How can this research help the expat brain?
Build a Flourishing Life, Journal on Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 8:29PM by Trisha Carter Have you ever had a moment when you’ve said something you regretted? The moment the words were out of your mouth you wished you could take them back?
I think we run an increased risk of experiencing those moments when we are living and working with another culture.
Build a Flourishing Life, Hit the Ground Running on Tuesday, April 19, 2011 at 10:45PM by Trisha Carter “How is doing your job here in Australia different to doing your similar job in the UK?”
I was in a coaching session working with a sales and marketing professional who has relocated from the UK. His partner was relocated by her company so he is looking for a job here. To help him get a feel for the market he has taken on a voluntary marketing role which means he is representing a not-for-profit in a B2B marketing and sales capacity. Together we reviewed the differences he was experiencing and assessed his adaptation.