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How to bridge the Culture Gap
When you read some of the pages on the site you could get the idea that there will be little problems for you as a, say Briton in say, Singapore. The idea of there being any problem for the same Britton in the Netherlands would be far from your mind. Well, let us make one thing clear to you; problems there will be. The size, extent and duration of them can however vary significantly, depending on you more than the circumstances. Cultural differences are ever present as soon as you cross the border of a country, a state, a province, sometimes even a city and they can be a big problem for you when you move abroad to work and may be an even bigger one for your spouse. The author of this could write a book about the 'problem' of cultural differences and indeed there have been many books written about the subject. This would go a bit far here though so what follows are just some short pointers based on own experience and the 2 books listed below here from which some of the information is drawn. So what are these pointers than:
1 - Don't forget your spouse
If you are sent here or have accepted a 'local' job there will be work waiting for you, procedures to discuss, clients to consider and that will occupy a considerable amount of your time and energy, the cultural problems will wait. Your spouse however has no such luxury, s/he has to deal with the mover, landlord, contractor, maid, shop assistants, school etc. etc. and will immediately be confronted with all manner of unexpected differences … and money is often not the answer but the problem. So while you are busy and oblivious of most of the differences (yet) your other half will be getting slowly crazy and your own pre-occupation with the new job and the work it entails may make you miss that totally.
2 - Two Time Shock
According to 'Management Worldwide' you will not get a single culture shock, but can expect a second to follow once you realize that just when you thought you had things under control …. Though initially not realized as such the writer of this can understand and subscribe to this theory.
3 - Not everything is culture
Cultural differences will be encountered and they can be a big problem but not everything is cultural! Sometimes the person across the table is simply not a very nice one (or maybe you are not), sometimes it is the situation, not the culture. Be prepared but don't blame everything on it.
4 - The problem with interpretation
If you are going to a place where you don't speak the language at a decent degree you probably end-up with an interpreter, either someone that simply translates or one that really interprets for you. The former may not be familiar with what you try to say and so if you feel answers are a bit strange, rephrase and retry. The second may put a lot of own 'initiative' in and though that may appear useful it won't help you in the long run; you need to understand. So, take a deep breadth, read a book (or two) keep your head clear and give it a go. Recommended reading:- Management Worldwide, David J. Hickson and Derek S. Pugh, penguin books 2001
- Cross Cultural Design, Henry Steiner and Ken Haas, Thames and Hudson 1995
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