Mindset In Cross-Cultural Communication
Sharing information is one of the enriching aspects of social media. One of my Twitter buddies just forwarded me a link to an article in the Financial Times:
This article outlines how people in management positions:
- Travel to different countries
- To broaden their own mindsets
- And how this in turn gives them more confidence
I have previously written about how international exposure improves your cross-cultural skills
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Mindset In An International Business Environment
On Get International Clients, I also advise businesses entering new foreign markets to concentrate on developing the right mindsets. Sometimes an open mindset seems of secondary importance when you are busy with the business of going international. And yet, your mindset can be crucial to your international business success. I have seen businesses fail primarily due to the inadequate mindset of the key people involved. And I have also seen the reverse: someone with a business that appears to be of little value, makes it a success because the he has the right mindset. Throughout my career in international sales and marketing I have worked within many different international teams. Most of these international teams were very positive working environments. We all had similar levels of international skills. People are much more effective and productive at work in a positive environment. But was there also another ingredient?
Personal Experience Builds Confidence
There was something else that struck me in this Financial Times article.
- The leaders who take the time to have a real business experience in an international environment come back with more confidence.
Confidence with an open mindset is essential to success in times of economic turmoil.
Confidence Through Creativity
A few weeks ago, I enjoyed listening to a short video by Clayton Christensen on the two common traits of creative people:
- In the early years of your life, living and observing parents who fixed things themselves instead of calling on someone else to do it.
- The confidence to try, and fail, and try again
This struck a cord with me, because this is exactly how I grew up. Not only did my father fix everything himself , but I also saw him build a car, a boat, an airplane and even a hovercraft… all from scratch and going back to the drawing board many times before he got it right. After listening to this short video I realized why I felt uber-confident in myself when I left home. As a parent, I wonder if I gave this to my children or not. And I also wonder if today’s generation will be less creative, and less confident.
Personal Investment For More Confidence
Developing cross-cultural communication skills is personal development. You cannot learn them through study alone. You need to open yourself up when you interact with different cultures. This takes personal energy. It also leads you along a personal development path.
I have often witnessed a strong own self awareness providing a leading edge in certain situations.
It is no surprise business professionals, who travel and invest in themselves in different cultures, come back with a renewed sense of confidence.
More On Mindset In Cross-Cultural Communication:
- Communication Across Cultures Is Better With A Whole Brain Approach
- Cross Cultural Vision Is More Important Than Learning International Habits
- How An Open Mindset Increases Confidence
- How To Acquire The Right Mindset For International Sales
- How To Identify An International Mindset
- The Secret Of Successful Intercultural Communication
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