How to be a Great Global Employee

One of the bonuses from experiencing different people and places is the ability one gains to tune into creativity. To further expand your creative thought, Siegers suggests brainstorming with diverse groups of people from across borders. Find people to inspire you, wherever you go, he adds. Open your mind to the many possibilities and creative thought will flow. Then, be willing to draw on the best ideas from different places to come up with one strong plan or strategy.

Humans can’t help but judge. We have preconceived notions about life, the world and business, too. But in this new global economy, judging others without fully understanding the situation and culture won’t get you far. You have to recognize that you may be projecting your values and ideas onto other people. Next, you have to overcome those impulses by recognizing that other ideas and viewpoints are shaped by cultures and experiences which are undoubtedly different from yours. Different is not bad. It’s just different, says Siegers. Also, you must realize that other people are labeling you, too, he warns. It helps to understand how you may be perceived before you can put yourself in other people’s shoes. Once you pull away at all these strings, you can begin to build a relationship.

The first step in adapting is becoming less judgmental and recognizing that cultural norms differ from place to place. Then try to take on those uncomfortable challenges previously discussed. Most importantly, you have to be flexible. You have to try to understand the new environment and the people in it. Why are they doing things in this way? Why do they say this and that? Communication is the key to adapting. You must talk to people. Communicating is about the vantage point from which you are speaking, says Siegers. It’s about where you’re coming from and who you are in the context of those with whom you are communicating, he adds.

After you begin to understand the origin of another person’s perspective, you can begin to find ways to relate to him or her. That is when you can build a relationship. It’s not just about being a LinkedIn contact or Facebook friend, warns Siegers. You have to befriend the other person, too. Relationships – even professional ones – must be deeper than a social media profile. Indeed, business and society nowadays is broken down into networks. You have to build a vast network that travels across borders, cultures, and languages to be successful. An ability to create such a network begins with one’s willingness to reach out to others. Some people may have to push themselves, says Siegers. You have to be unafraid to make new contacts and reach out, all the while considering cultural norms and being careful to appropriately communicate. Most importantly, you must be available and willing to talk.

Change can be hard for some people. But nowadays change is everything. This is actually great news, reminds Siegers. In the world of work, this evolution means more people are coming into the mix. Parts of the world that are currently neglected, or ignored, will become players in both education and business, and this will give us a richer variety of opportunities in the workplace. Business programs will include e-learning, half-time, full-time, and blended programs, just to mention a few of the new developments in that area.. Of course, programs will grow more specialized and customized to the individual student. This is the wave of the future. But some things will never change, and that’s fine, too, says Siegers.

One thing is true and will remain true, he adds. Education sets you apart and gives you a way to the future.