WIIT Professional Development Event: International Protocol and International Assignments
On April 20, Sandy Moore of the McGinn Group discussed a host of issues encountered when working in international environments. She brought first-hand experience working overseas and in international environments teaching business people media skills. Her discussion centered on issues such as the benefits and challenges of learning the culture and language. Among many insightful observations, Ms. Moore shared with the audience that idea that the international experience includes acknowledging that everything will need to be translated, even while accepting that some things just cannot be translated.
Ms. Moore also discussed
perceptions of the U.S. businessperson overseas, and challenges such appearing
confident without being offensively pushy. Finally, Ms. Moore and the WIIT
participants exchanged experiences of commonly encountered differences in
business cultures: understanding passiveness or hyperbole; working through
culturally-imposed workplace norms; recognizing cultural perceptions and misperceptions;
and dealing with stereotyping.