This document provides an overview of strategies for thriving in a new culture. It discusses the challenges and opportunities of cultural transition, including communicating effectively, understanding protocols, and dealing with culture shock. The document outlines Crossroads Global's services to help with cross-cultural relocation training, culture awareness training, and on-site coaching. It also describes the cultural transition cycle and notes that fully integrating into a new culture involves learning to value cultural differences and developing new support networks and self-confidence.

1. Thriving in a New Culture
By Crossroads Global
Monika Chauhan-Stok
www.crossroads-global.com

2. 2
An overview
• Introductions
• Challenges and opportunities
• Culture – what it means to you
• The Adaptation Cycle (Culture
Shock!!)
• Practical strategies and next
steps

3. Objectives
• To enable you to understand important cultural
challenges and opportunities when moving
• To provide practical hints, tips and strategies for
successfully making the transition to a new culture
• To ensure a successful transition both for you and your
family

4. Cross cultural training, consultancy and coaching services
ü Cross-Cultural Relocation Training
ü Culture Awareness Training
ü Spouse Support Programme
ü On-site Coaching
ü Coaching over telephone
ü Repatriation Training
ü Family Programmes for international assignees
ü Global Leadership Programmes
ü Network of established country specialists and consultants in
over 25 countries and growing

5. Challenges & Opportunities
• Communicating effectively
• Understanding protocol
• Staying in touch
• Developing new routines

6. Challenges & Opportunities
• Creating a home
• Making new friends
• Work-life balance
• Leaving a career
• Dealing with culture shock

7. 7
“Knowing why people from other cultures
behave the way they do –and especially
knowing that their behaviour makes sense to
them even if it makes none to you – is the first
and most important step in crossing
cultures.’’

8. Culture – what it means ….
Culture is the shared ways in which groups of people understand and interpret the
world.
– Fons Trompenaars
Riding the Waves of Culture
Culture hides more than what it reveals, and strangely enough what it hides, it
hides most effectively from its own participants.
– Edward Hall
The Silent Language
Culture is what makes us feel a stranger when away from home…..

9. Business Etiquette & Protocol
• Greetings
• Business Cards
• Gifts
• Business Hours
• Business Attire
• Making Appointments
• Gestures & Body Language
• Dining, Entertaining, & Hosting
• Tipping
• Conversation Topics

10. Cultural Transition cycle
Honeymoon
Euphoria
Energy
Differences seem minor
New and exciting
Depression and Isolation
Losing touch with home culture
Awareness of deep cultural
differences
Loss of self-esteem
Loss of support of family/friends
Feeling threatened
Withdrawal, depression, tension,
fatigue, homesickness
Stereotyping and hostility toward
host nationals
Autonomy and
Integration
Learning to value cultural
differences
Relaxed
Open Minded
Support networks
Newfound self-confidence

11. Contact us….
Contact us for more information
+44 20 70 600 650 (UK)
+352 691 71 0606 (Luxembourg)
www.crossroads-global.com
info@crossroads-global.com