Cultivating Empathy through International Experience
Imagine this: you've just landed in a new country, adrenaline pumping, eager to embark on a new adventure. You've meticulously planned a meeting only to realize, with a sinking heart, that your time zone calculations were off. You're an hour late! Panic sets in when you are just seeing a message from your client as you are waiting for the meeting to start, “Meeting still happening?”
This was my reality. I had miscalculated the time difference, arriving an hour late for my critical client meeting. A few message exchanges later, my client and I finally sat down to meet.
I profusely apologized. "These things happen," she said. She understood. She, an international professional, had navigated the treacherous waters of cross-cultural communication, experiencing unintentional misinterpretations first-hand.
This "international incident" reminded me of the power of empathy in building successful international business relationships. It also sparked a few ideas for those who want to cultivate empathy when working with international colleagues:
Immerse yourself
Live abroad - Dive headfirst into a culture vastly different from your own. There are subtle differences in meaning that can be lost in translation, even within the same language. Embrace the learning curve, decipher the unspoken language of slang and context. A blank stare or frozen smile could indicate you have said something that has a very different meaning to them.
Push your linguistic boundaries - Venture into a country where your native language holds no sway. You might have mastered the basics, but engaging in business, legal, or financial conversations demands a whole new level of fluency. This will give you a profound appreciation for those who grapple with mastering your language for professional purposes.
Embrace the unknown
Step off the tourist track - Forgo the comfort of elaborate tourist packages or chain hotels. Opt for a local apartment, connect with a non-English speaking host, and navigate the daily grind. Cook familiar dishes using unfamiliar condiments, discover hidden gems, and celebrate the victories of figuring things out on your own.
Forge friendship while making dinner - Find a friend from a different culture. Learn to cook a dish from their homeland, either in their kitchen or yours. You'll be surprised by their eagerness to share their heritage. The learning process fosters deeper understanding, paving the way for meaningful conversations about family, culture, and life.
Break bread, build bridges
Explore culinary landscapes - Food transcends mere sustenance. It's a language of hospitality, a symbol of community, and a celebration of shared experiences. Venture out together to restaurants serving authentic cuisine from your international friends' cultures. Savor unfamiliar flavors, embrace culinary adventures, and share the joy of breaking bread together. While your palate may not always agree, your willingness to try new things will be appreciated, because they have taken risks adapting to your culture. Trying new food can be a powerful cultural exchange filled with laughter and new found understanding.
By pursuing and learning through these experiences, we can cultivate empathy, a key ingredient for successful international business relationships. As we take risks and make mistakes, we learn valuable lessons from the most unexpected places.
