Global Dexterity. Andy Molinsky

      

      Praise for Global Dexterity

      “Thought-provoking with a practical application. Global Dexterity provides critical tools for adapting to a different culture while maintaining one’s authenticity. A definite must-have for every HR professional given our global and culturally dynamic workforce.”

      —Patricia Francisco, Director of Human Resources, CRA/LA-DLA, successor to the former CRA/LA

      “Whether you’re traveling abroad, studying internationally, relocating for work, or welcoming foreign employees to your team, Global Dexterity is a must-read for anyone seeking to become a true global citizen. It offers a refreshing perspective that minimizes the focus on mimicking cultural norms to fit in and maximizes the importance of adapting to new experiences without losing the essence of who you are.”

      —Lisa B. Sousa, General Counsel, EF Education First

      “Andy Molinsky’s book is spot-on in eye-opening ways, sharing insights as to how to cope with the challenges of transcending cultural differences and using stories to help us learn. I found it a great read—thought-provoking and helpful.”

      —Fields Wicker-Miurin, OBE FKC, Leaders’ Quest

      “Global Dexterity truly resonates. As an HR executive with over thirty years of experience in global companies, I can see a real advantage in using the book’s tips and techniques to help manage and communicate with people from around the world!”

      —Ted Manley, VP, Total Rewards and HR Operations, Dunkin’ Brands Inc.

      “Andy Molinsky shows us that successful leaders crack the code of foreign cultures and adjust their behavior accordingly. Then he explains how it’s done. Global Dexterity is an indispensable guide for managing a globalizing world.”

      —Steven A. Rochlin, Member of the Board of Directors and Head of Global Advisory Services, AccountAbility; coauthor, Beyond Good Company and Untapped

      “The future will be shaped by people who can effectively live and work across cultural differences. Andy Molinsky provides a series of simple and effective tools for helping people understand where cultural differences come from and for helping us, as individuals, develop our own capacity to bridge those differences effectively. Global dexterity is an important concept, and this is an important book.”

      —Adam Weinberg, President and CEO, World Learning

      “Global Dexterity provides a clear road map to conquer the quest for cultural diversity, which is critical in today’s flat world. The self-assessments on identifying cultural gaps and working on a personal mind-set to overcome them will prove handy to anyone working in a new cultural environment.”

      —Mansi Madan Tripathy, Chief Marketing Officer, Shell India

      “Andy Molinsky does a masterful job of demystifying the challenges one faces working in or with other cultures. His book is as insightful as it is practical. In a world in which you need to both understand and adapt to cultural differences, this is the book to read.”

      —Matthias Kempf, Director, HR Talent Europe, adidas Group

      How to Adapt Your Behavior across Cultures without Losing Yourself in the Process

      ANDY MOLINSKY

      Harvard Business Review Press

       Boston, Massachusetts

      Copyright 2013 Andrew L. Molinsky

      All rights reserved

      Printed in the United States of America

      10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior permission of the publisher. Requests for permission should be directed to [email protected], or mailed to Permissions, Harvard Business School Publishing, 60 Harvard Way, Boston, Massachusetts 02163.

      The web addresses referenced in this book were live and correct at the time of the book’s publication but may be subject to change.

      Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

      Molinsky, Andy.

      Global dexterity: how to adapt your behavior across cultures without losing yourself in the process / Andy Molinsky.

      pages cm

      ISBN 978-1-4221-8727-2 (alk. paper)

      1. International business enterprises—Management—Cross-cultural studies. 2. Management—Cross-cultural studies. 3. Corporate culture— Cross-cultural studies. 4. Intercultural communication. 5. Diversity in the workplace. 6. Business etiquette. I. Title.

      HD62.4.M64 2013

      395.5’2—dc23

      2012041299

      ISBN: 978-1-4221-8727-2

      eISBN: 978-1-4221-8728-9

      For Jen, Alice, and Ben: with love and gratitude

      Contents

       Preface

      PART ONE

      Why Global Dexterity Matters

      1 Introduction to Global Dexterity

      2 Psychological Challenges of Developing Global Dexterity

      PART TWO

      How to Develop Your Own Global Dexterity

      3 Diagnose the New Cultural Code

      4 Identify Your Own Challenges with the New Cultural Code

      5 Overcome Challenges by Customizing Your Cultural Behavior

      6 Integrate What You Have Learned Through Rehearsal and Evaluation

      PART THREE

      Fine-Tuning Your Global Dexterity

      7 Charting Your Progress over Time

      8 Getting Others to Forgive Your Cultural Mistakes

      9 Finding a Cultural Mentor

      10 Choosing Whether or Not to Adapt Your Behavior

      Conclusion: The Myth and Reality of Adapting Behavior across Cultures

       Notes

       About the Author

      Preface

      Have you ever lived or worked abroad and had to adapt your behavior to be successful in a new cultural setting? Are you planning on working abroad and curious about how to develop the skills to be effective in your new assignment? Do you lead or manage people who live or work abroad and whose success is critical to the success of your organization? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, this book is for you.

      Global Dexterity is about learning to adapt your behavior across cultures—no matter what culture you come from, what culture you are going to, or the situation you find yourself in. The purpose of the book is to develop the ability to smoothly and successfully adapt how you act in a foreign setting—so that you are effective and appropriate in that setting without feeling that you are losing yourself in the process. The tools and frameworks that you will learn about in this book come from my decade-long research program about the challenges that managers, executives, and employees face when adapting behavior across cultures and from a popular MBA elective course that I have created to help people overcome these challenges, which manifest themselves in a wide variety of different situations and contexts. For example:

       You’re from the United States and are working in Germany. You need to communicate negative