Breaking Through Culture Shock : What You Need to Succeed in International Business

What makes some international managers successful while others struggle with basic tasks? If we are all so global nowadays, what makes some of us more international than others? When U.S. managers succeed in only 50% of their global work and UK managers only 14%, the answer lies not with the number of air-miles one clocks up on transatlantic flights or the technical excellence one brings to a job. Success with international teams entails managing culture shock. In this new edition of the critically acclaimed Breaking Through Culture Shock: What You Need to Succeed in International Business, Elisabeth Marx provides a practical guide to managing the emotional, cognitive, and social facets of participating in international cyber-teams and long-term assignments in another countries. Drawing on the experiences of over two hundred managers from around the world and in-depth interviews with global business leaders like Edward Dolman of Christie's, Peter Job of Reuters, and Win Bischoff of Schroders and Citigroup Europe, Marx explains the many layers and types of culture, providing steps to both businesses and individuals to cope and conquer culture-related stress. With instructive scenarios and quizzes to test your knowledge, Marx offers positive and practical business advice to those who want to succeed working in international business. Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 11 xiii......Page 13 Part One Experiencing Culture Shock — Learning to Adapt......Page 16 2......Page 17 5-7......Page 20 6......Page 21 adaptation, phases of 7-11......Page 22 11......Page 26 13......Page 28 15-16......Page 30 16......Page 31 17......Page 32 18......Page 33 intelligence, emotional 20-21......Page 35 21......Page 36 Mixed feelings......Page 38 anxiety 24-5......Page 39 obsession 25-6......Page 40 depression 26-7......Page 41 Type A personality 27-31......Page 42 28-30......Page 43 29-30......Page 44 31-6......Page 46 stress checklist 32......Page 47 Anticipation......Page 48 34-5......Page 49 35......Page 50 38......Page 53 39-61......Page 54 UAE 41......Page 56 42......Page 57 rituals 44-5......Page 59 45-7......Page 60 47-8......Page 62 49-51......Page 64 50......Page 65 51-3......Page 66 53......Page 68 54......Page 69 56......Page 71 58-9......Page 73 59......Page 74 60......Page 75 Thinking across cultures......Page 76 62......Page 77 64......Page 79 69......Page 84 72......Page 87 The strategy of networking......Page 88 75......Page 90 Part Two Conquering Culture Shock — Achieving Success......Page 92 78......Page 93 Workforce/society......Page 94 Business communication......Page 95 Business wear......Page 96 Workforce/society......Page 97 Business communication......Page 98 UK......Page 99 Workforce/society......Page 100 Business communication......Page 101 Business wear......Page 102 Workforce/society......Page 103 Business communication......Page 104 Working day......Page 105 Workforce/society......Page 106 Business communication......Page 107 Weaknesses in Chinese business......Page 108 cultural differences 94-104......Page 109 Philosophy......Page 110 96......Page 111 group dynamics 97......Page 112 culture, corporate 98-100......Page 113 99......Page 114 teams, international 100-4......Page 115 102-3......Page 117 Positive indicators......Page 118 104......Page 119 105......Page 120 Honeymoons and nightmares in relationships......Page 122 Frequent flyers......Page 126 117......Page 132 121......Page 136 122-4......Page 137 relocation checklist 124-6......Page 139 Two weeks before......Page 140 At destination......Page 141 127......Page 142 medical issues 128-30......Page 143 Latin America 129......Page 144 Practical recommendations for preventing disease......Page 145 131-5......Page 146 Unrealistic perception of own country......Page 148 Restlessness......Page 149 135......Page 150 136-61......Page 151 Effects on personality......Page 152 Table 13 Positive effects on personality......Page 153 Table 14 Positive career effects......Page 154 Table 15 Negative career effects......Page 155 John, David 141-3......Page 156 Family perspective......Page 157 Young high flyers......Page 158 Kuhnert, Caroline 144-6......Page 159 Percy, Deborah 146-7......Page 161 A new career pattern......Page 162 Expand your global thinking and expertise......Page 164 150......Page 165 152-5......Page 167 Coaching......Page 170 156-9......Page 171 jobs, applying for international 159-60......Page 174 160......Page 175 Job, Peter 162-70......Page 177 Timing......Page 178 Complexity of different markets......Page 179 The difference between traditional managers and the ‘new’ international manager......Page 180 Career planning......Page 181 Comfort zones and comfort activities......Page 182 International managers in the year 2020......Page 183 Commentary......Page 184 Bischoff, Win 170-76......Page 185 International travel......Page 186 Recruitment......Page 187 Career planning......Page 188 Adaptation in Asia......Page 189 Commentary......Page 190 Hasselkus, Walter 177-83......Page 192 Career planning......Page 193 What characteristics made him successful?......Page 194 Personal effects of international experience......Page 195 Developments at Rover......Page 196 Commentary......Page 197 184-208......Page 199 Repatriation......Page 200 186-7......Page 201 187-8......Page 202 188......Page 203 189-91......Page 204 192......Page 207 Meeting managers’ expectations......Page 209 195-208......Page 210 Table 22 International competencies......Page 211 197......Page 212 198-200......Page 213 Psychological assessment of foreign nationals......Page 214 201......Page 216 salaries 205-6......Page 220 206-7......Page 221 Improving retention rates after international assignments......Page 222 209-22......Page 224 Motivation......Page 225 Expectations......Page 227 215......Page 230 Adaptability to new situations......Page 231 217-18......Page 232 Ability to deal with stress......Page 234 Self-reliance......Page 235 Personality......Page 236 Bibliography......Page 240 Index......Page 244 4......Page 19 22......Page 37 40......Page 55 43......Page 58 xv......Page 15 xiv......Page 14 204......Page 219 203......Page 218 14......Page 29 110......Page 125 19......Page 34 12-13......Page 27 123......Page 138 202......Page 217 109-10......Page 124 120......Page 135 46......Page 61 76......Page 91 114......Page 129 66......Page 81 63-4......Page 78 108-11......Page 123 119......Page 134 57......Page 72 70......Page 85 55-9......Page 70 "In this, the first systematically researched book on this major subject, Elisabeth Marx offers positive and practical advice for breaking through culture shock and shows that all of us can be internationally effective if we develop our ability to adapt. Unlike other books on the cross-cultural dimensions of management, her book looks at the international manager as a human being with development needs at a professional and personal level." "Culture shock or 'the experience of foreignness' has become the critical factor for success in today's global business environment -- and an occupational hazard if we fail to adjust to international counterparts with different motivations, behaviors and ways of making decisions. One in seven UK managers and nearly half of their US counterparts fail to achieve success in their international dealings." "Based on extensive research, the book focuses on a brand new model -- the culture shock triangle which shows you how to behave differently, think differently and balance your emotions. Using this model and numerous case studies, Marx shows how you can ride out the waves of euphoria and the sloughs of depression, emerging contented and truly cross-culturally effective with the right balance between retaining a sense of your own identity and achieving an international identity." "In addition to this holistic approach to personal and professional issues, there is expert advice on both individual and dual career management, including guidance on returning -- the greatest culture shock of all. She also considers the various ways in which international work occurs -- frequent business trips and multinational teams as well as long-term assignments -- while offering guidance to organizations on how to select and look after their international executives so that the best results can be achieved for all concerned." "The book includes numerous case studies based on Marx's international consultancy work and research and draws on the author's personal cross-cultural experience as a German psychologist studying and working in Britain and Singapore. In addition, international business leaders such as Peter Job of Reuters, Walter Hasselkus of Rover and Win Bischoff of Schroders share their views and provide inspiration to all managers on how to succeed in the global arena." "Breaking Through Culture Shock is an invaluable self-assessment guide. The final chapter in particular helps you to reflect on some of the issues that are important for success in international work, including motivation, expectations and self-reliance." "Ultimately, the message of the book is that with the right preparation international work is one of the most stimulating and positive career experiences whether away from your own country, at home in an international organization or working as part of a cross-functional team in cyberspace. Book jacket."--BOOK JACKET This work looks at the international manager on a professional and personal level, however long- or short-term the assignment may be. It is a practical guide with checklists and exercises, offering step-by-step guidance for those embarking on an international career, and with essential advice for organizations on how to develop and manage their international staff. There is also expert advice on career management and on the effects that international work can have on families, and guidance on returning - reverse culture shock often being the greatest culture shock of all. Annotation "This work looks at the international manager on a professional and personal level, however long- or short-term the assignment may be. It is a practical guide with checklists and exercises, offering step-by-step guidance for those embarking on an international career, and with essential advice for organizations on how to develop and manage their international staff." Written for managers working outside their country of origin, Elisabeth Marx's guide provides practical information on how to deal with the vastly different cultural, social and work-related issues that are sure to impinge on both life and career A practical guide, with checklists and exercises, offering step-by-step guidance for those embarking on an international career. Advice is also given to organisations on how to develop and manage international career experiences. Publisher Fact Sheet An updated edition of the invaluable how-to guide for anyone working in a virtual team or on an international assignment on succeeding personally & professionally in the world of global business Elisabeth Marx. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [225]-227) And Index. Imagine that you have just come back from a meeting with your boss.