By Carolyn Feuille, President Esprit Global Learning For the International Career Fair February 20 & 21, 2009 San Francisco, California

What do you do now? ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 a. Talk to the VP/Director of Marketing. He’s not so cautious as your boss. b. Give up and find a job where your contribution is appreciated. c. Ask for help to understand how to be successful and gain influence. Request coaching or mentoring.

Key #1 - Learn the cultures of Europe. Gain knowledge of country and regional history, geography, politics, economy, demographics. Demonstrate curiosity to expand your knowledge. ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Discover what makes someone a Swede, a Frenchman, an Austrian, a Spaniard, a Romanian or a ______________. Cultural beliefs, values, attitudes which influence thinking, behavior,systems, customs and practices

Gain knowledge of country and regional history, geography, politics, economy, demographics.

Demonstrate curiosity to expand your knowledge.

Discover what makes someone a Swede, a Frenchman, an Austrian, a Spaniard, a Romanian or a ______________.

Cultural beliefs, values, attitudes which influence thinking, behavior,systems, customs and practices

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Source: Google Maps

Key #2 - Recognize diversity. Significant differences between countries - a wealth of cultures: 23 official languages Legal and taxation systems Problem solving approaches Traditions Topography and climate Food! National pride - “we French”, “we Dutch,” we Poles” ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008

Significant differences between countries - a wealth of cultures:

23 official languages

Legal and taxation systems

Problem solving approaches

Traditions

Topography and climate

Food!

National pride - “we French”, “we Dutch,” we Poles”

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Key #3 - Establish relationships. Basis of communication Group oriented, especially Southern & Central Europe Essential for doing business and for teamwork Get things done with and through others. Nurture key relationships. Show respect for those senior and older.

Basis of communication

Group oriented, especially Southern & Central Europe

Essential for doing business and for teamwork

Get things done with and through others.

Nurture key relationships.

Show respect for those senior and older.

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Key #4 - Follow formality & protocol. Formality counts - respecting protocol reflects who you are and how you may be perceived. Names, titles and grammatical forms of “you” Range of formality across countries

Formality counts - respecting protocol reflects who you are and how you may be perceived.

Names, titles and grammatical forms of “you”

Range of formality across countries

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Key #5 - Listen and observe. Being effective = listening with curiosity, without judging, and for the unexpected Show your interest in others’ perspectives. Observe people, interactions, situations to learn how things are done. Try to interpret from the local cultural perspective to increase understanding and communication.

Being effective = listening with curiosity, without judging, and for the unexpected

Show your interest in others’ perspectives.

Observe people, interactions, situations to learn how things are done.

Try to interpret from the local cultural perspective to increase understanding and communication.

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Key #6 - Engage in informal debate. Expression of opinions expected Way for Europeans to get to know you Stay informed on local and international politics.

Expression of opinions expected

Way for Europeans to get to know you

Stay informed on local and international politics.

Key #7 - Participate in meetings. Decisions usually made by: consensus in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands persons with higher authority in France, Spain, Italy - often after much discussion during meetings implicit consensus and compromise in Switzerland ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Punctuality varies from North to South.

Decisions usually made by:

consensus in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands

persons with higher authority in France, Spain, Italy - often after much discussion during meetings

implicit consensus and compromise in Switzerland

Punctuality varies from North to South.

Power distance & hierarchy: NO CH D POR AUS IRE SW FN UK NL IT SP GR B F Key #8 - Adapt your style to increase your productivity. ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Low/Egalitarian High/Hierarchical NO: Norway CH: Switzerland D: Germany POR: Portugal AUS: Austria IRE: Ireland SW: Sweden FN: Finland UK: United Kingdom NL: Netherlands IT: Italy SP: Spain GR: Greece B: Belgium F: France Source: Geert Hofstede, Culture’s Consequences

Power distance & hierarchy:

NO CH D POR

AUS IRE SW FN UK NL IT SP GR B F

Key #9 - Balance corporate culture with local culture. Corporate culture of MN’s often reflect their headquarters, not necessarily national/local culture of operations. ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Applies to how meetings are run, to presentation style, to meeting deadlines, to leadership style, & what’s rewarded. Promotions sometimes based partly on effectiveness with conformity to corporate culture.

Corporate culture of MN’s often reflect their headquarters, not necessarily national/local culture of operations.

Applies to how meetings are run, to presentation style, to meeting deadlines, to leadership style, & what’s rewarded.

Promotions sometimes based partly on effectiveness with conformity to corporate culture.

Key #10 - Make friends for life. “ Coconut” vs. “peach” vs. “fuzzy coconut” ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Long-term concept of friendship may explain taking a long time to develop closeness. Examples: being invited to others’ homes encountering reluctance to make solid friendships with those coming to Europe for temporary stay

“ Coconut” vs. “peach” vs. “fuzzy coconut”

Long-term concept of friendship may explain taking a long time to develop closeness.

Examples:

being invited to others’ homes

encountering reluctance to make solid friendships with those coming to Europe for temporary stay

©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 “ Tomorrow’s business challenges are less technical than they are cultural. Culture must be managed just like any other business phenomenon.” -Peter Drucker

Intercultural Competence: - Your passport to success in Europe ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008

What can I do now? Cultivate your cultural intelligence for further success: Develop your personal global vision and use it to guide your life and work. ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008 Hire a career or global leadership coach. Contact me to join Esprit Global Learning’s Going Global Coaching Circle. Find mentors in your profession and industry. Read materials on Europe, international business, intercultural communication, and literature by European authors.

Cultivate your cultural intelligence for further success:

Develop your personal global vision and use it to guide your life and work.

Hire a career or global leadership coach. Contact me to join Esprit Global Learning’s Going Global Coaching Circle.

Find mentors in your profession and industry.

Read materials on Europe, international business, intercultural communication, and literature by European authors.

Recommended Readings: Black, S., Gregersen, H., Mendenhall, M., Stroh, L. (1999) Globalizing People through International Assignments . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley Rosen, R. et al. (2000) Global Literacies: Lessons on business leadership and national cultures. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster Rapaille, C. (2006) The Culture Code: An ingenious way to understand why people around the world live and buy as they do. New York, N.Y.: Random House Hill, Richard (1997) We Europeans . Brussels, Belgium: EuroPublications Oertig-Davidson, Margaret (2002) Beyond Chocolate: Understanding Swiss Culture. Basel, Switzerland: Bergli Books Trompenaars, Fons (1993) Riding the Waves of Culture. London, England: The Economist Books, Ltd. Mole, John (1995) Mind Your Manners. London, England: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Ltd. What can I do now? ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008

Recommended Readings:

Black, S., Gregersen, H., Mendenhall, M., Stroh, L. (1999) Globalizing People through International Assignments . Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley

Rosen, R. et al. (2000) Global Literacies: Lessons on business leadership and national cultures. New York, N.Y.: Simon & Schuster

Rapaille, C. (2006) The Culture Code: An ingenious way to understand why people around the world live and buy as they do. New York, N.Y.: Random House

Hill, Richard (1997) We Europeans . Brussels, Belgium: EuroPublications

Oertig-Davidson, Margaret (2002) Beyond Chocolate: Understanding Swiss Culture. Basel, Switzerland: Bergli Books

Trompenaars, Fons (1993) Riding the Waves of Culture. London, England: The Economist Books, Ltd.

Mole, John (1995) Mind Your Manners. London, England: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Ltd.

Websites For Expatriates AIESEC: international platform for young people for jobs & internships; university chapters around the world: http://www. aiesec .org U.S. State Dept.: http://www.state.gov For women: http://www.aportableidentity.com/index.htm Practical info: http://www.expatexchange.com http://www.expatforum.com/ Intercultural Press – books, tapes http://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/index.html Tales from a Small Planet: http:/ /www.talesmag.com LinkedIn – Expat Network What can I do now? ©Esprit Global Learning, 2008 Contact Carolyn Feuille: cfeuille@espritgloballearning.com Tel. +1 530.264.7008

Websites For Expatriates

AIESEC: international platform for young people for jobs & internships; university chapters around the world: http://www. aiesec .org

U.S. State Dept.: http://www.state.gov

For women:

http://www.aportableidentity.com/index.htm

Practical info:

http://www.expatexchange.com

http://www.expatforum.com/

Intercultural Press – books, tapes

http://www.interculturalpress.com/shop/index.html

Tales from a Small Planet: http:/ /www.talesmag.com

LinkedIn – Expat Network