Why All Managers Need Foreign Experience
Wednesday February 13, 2008
My local paper ran a column recently that encouraged students to get involved in programs like the US Peace Corps because "businesses like candidates with foreign experience". I strongly believe that broadening your horizons makes you a better person, not just a better manager. The more different settings you place yourself in and learn from, the better equipped you will be to develop solutions to all kinds of problems.
One example where foreign experience is helpful is in Managing Foreign Language Teams. If you have never left the country in which you were born, how will you be able to see the issue from the other side? Workers can't see management's side because they've never been managers, but most managers started out as workers. Most Americans don't understand how offshoring US jobs to India affects the Indian people because they have never been there, but many of the Indian business executives involved in the process attended school and worked in the US. The more other peoples and cultures you know, the easier it will be for you to make good decisions.
How has your foreign experience helped you? Click the comments link below and share your thoughts.
I have had good exposure to foreign clients in Europe, US and South East Asian countries. First, you tend to blend with their culture, now culture can be a combination of their way they work, characteristics they carry, its like being roman in rome. Second, you get exposure in the business/work front, as to how they make their decisions, how they interpret what we communicate. Third, we tend to learn their processes, their wide knowledge on the work areas. All these we share and that makes us a better person to work and carry a wide array of personality. Its always good and a must to have foreign exposure.
Thank you
I think also is necessary to have a foreign experience! It’s must for real manager!
I was born in Uganda and at age 18 left for the UK where I spent 12 years studying and working for various public and private sector organisations. While in Europe I got the opportunity to study my MBA in Italy, got work experience in Spain, German and Brussels.
I now work for the British Council in Africa, where I cover 11 regional offices with a magnitude of languages, tribes and a diversity of cultures.
Getting hands on experience from the differient cultural settings I have studied and worked in has greatly enhanced my cultural awareness, an added value to doing business on such a global scale. I have also noted that not having a foreign language is a major challenge. My recent assignment to China just exposed me to a number of management challenges. The learning never stops. Foreign experience is well worth it!
Foreign exposure is a pre-requisite to sucessful and efficient management skills.