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 by Lawrence

Expatriate Mental Health Issues must stay front and centre … for the sake of the expat and their families as well as the business

I’m encouraged to see more attention given to help expatriates (and repatriates) transition to their new environment compared to even 5 to 10 years ago.

A new AETNA International study found that there was an average 28% increase in expat mental health claims from 2014-2016.

It is imperative to support expats and their families … for their sake as well as their sponsoring organizations.  Not addressing mental health issues jeopardizes the international assignee’s personal and professional lives as well as the return on the company’s investment.

http://www.hrmonline.ca/hr-news/mental-health/are-your-expat-employees-at-risk-of-mental-illness-225842.aspx

 

in Expat Coaching 0 comments
 by Lawrence

Cross-Cultural Leadership and Professional Ice Hockey

Mike Keenan to coach Chinese KHL team

http://fw.to/Kjre29Q

 

This article caught my attention because it marries two of my passions:  Cross Cultural Leadership and professional Ice Hockey!

 

Years ago during his NHL career, Iron Mike Keenan had a reputation for being an old school coach; he worked his players until he developed a visceral hatred and fearful relationship.  Practices after a loss usually meant hard skating drills until players vomited into submission.  He toyed with the fragile egos of goaltenders, often pulling or switching them out multiple times in a game.  He was Master and his players served him.

 

He reappeared as a Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) coach in 2013-14 and earned a 35-11-0-8 record with Metallurg Magnitogorsk.  In the same season his playoff record was 16-5, earning him and his team the KHL Championship.

 

Obviously his Draconian coaching style resonated in the disciplined Russian/ Soviet sports culture.  But even so, Keenan consulted other former NHL coaches who had experience in the KHL (Dave King and Paul Maurice) and adapted his style to his new host culture.

 

Yesterday, Keenan was hired to lead an expansion Chinese hockey club in the KHL, Kunlun Red Star.  As the article points out, the aim is to develop Chinese hockey players for a national team for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

 

It will be interesting to see whether Keenan’s hard nose approach that found success in the NHL and in Russia will also succeed in China, where harmonious and collective team spirit is paramount.

 

There are so many interesting cross cultural leadership perspectives in this on-going story.  What take will Keenan have on the filial relationship between teacher/student, coach/player that still underlines Chinese culture?  Or is the Chinese Ice Hockey Association’s intention to change the cultural mindset of its hockey players as a means to compete on the global hockey stage?

 

Do leaders have a responsibility to adapt to the host culture in which they operate in?  Or does the host culture desire to adapt aspects of the foreign culture as a means, it believes, to be more effective on the global stage?  Global business executives have debated these questions … isn’t it more fun now that it’s in the ice hockey rink?!

in Cross Cultural Leadership 0 comments
 by Lawrence

The Expat Cycle in Six Short Podcasts

I did a series of podcasts last year discussing the different phases of the expatriation cycle.  Give them a listen on Limitless Laowai with Ally Mona at:

https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/limitless-laowai-expat-life/id946367163?mt=2

Episode #248 – Why go international:  Understanding the perks of living abroad

There are expats in every country around the world.  But why?  What’s the real draw?  In this podcast, I talk about four benefits:

  • A global mindset is a necessary skill
  • An international assignment will set you apart
  • Immeasurable personal growth
  • Lifestyle and financial benefits

 

Episode #249 – Future expat beware: Four things you need to consider before taking that assignment

Living abroad … there’s nothing quite like it!  And yet, not every expat is effective overseas.  What if there was a roadmap that you could use ahead of your assignment that could help predict your chances of a successful, enjoyable and fulfilling expatriate experience?  Think about these four considerations:

  • Money should never be a driving force behind taking an international assignment
  • Predict your probability of professional and personal success
  • Your level of cultural dexterity
  • Family commitments

 

Episode #250 – Think before you sign: How to assess an expat job offer and negotiate a package

So you’ve got an international assignment offer on the table.  Congrats!  Now what?  Assessing the offer can be a tough process of discernment to wade through from your home country – especially if you don’t know the right questions to ask.  You only get one chance to negotiate a contract, so consider:

  • Clear understanding of the role
  • Company due diligence
  • Matching your individual style with the host culture
  • Consider these contract terms

 

Episode #251 – Get noticed: Marketing yourself for an international assignment

How can you successfully market yourself for an international role?  Where should you start?

  • Targeting markets with specific needs
  • Make yourself searchable globally
  • Leveraging personal and professional networks
  • Key points in an ideal profile

 

Episode #252 – Get your mind right: Four mindsets that set successful expats apart

There is a mindset that sets successful expats apart from those who fail – those who just don’t get into a good rhythm in life and work during their time abroad.  What are the top four characteristics?

  • Curiosity
  • Humility
  • Agility
  • High EQ

 

Episode #253 – Repatriating well

Let’s just say it:  Repatriation is hard than expatriation.  You can’t rely on your organization to repatriate you well, so tune in to hear four tips for easing back home and making the repatriation process go as smoothly as possible, including:

  • View repatriation as a new international assignment
  • Change your frame of mind
  • Seek an empathetic ear
  • Work to the plan, not the timetable

 

Lawrence Chi is a coach for expatriates and cross-cultural consultant.  His mission is to grow expatriates professionally and personally and to make organizations more international.  Visit his website www.TheExpatCompass.com.

in Coaching / Expat Coaching / Podcasts / Resources 0 comments
 by Lawrence

Anyone can benefit from coaching – are you ready for it?

While coaching is gaining in popularity and acceptance as an effective means of development, it is relatively new and misunderstood, which leads potential clients to ask:  Is coaching right for them?  Coaching are client led conversations:  the client drives the agenda, leads the discussion, creates and ultimately commits to a plan of action.  The coach’s role is to ask the right questions to stimulate the client’s thought towards greater self-awareness.

 

Rather than ask if this process is suitable for you, I offer another perspective:  are you ready for coaching?  Everyone can benefit from coaching but being in the right frame of mind will ensure that you will maximize your gain from the process.  By the end of this article, you will be able to determine if you are prepared for the coaching process.

 

Three questions measure your readiness for coaching.  The first is rhetorical: “Do you have an area of self-development?”  Everyone has room for improvement, whether it is seeking growth in new skills, behaviours or mindsets or remedial in nature.  The amount of knowledge, skills and capabilities are limitless and one’s ability to deepen their competence has no bounds.  Seeking growth would be developing necessary and new skills after your first promotion to management.  An example of remedial action would be improving or correcting behaviours that you already have as a manager of people.  Recognizing that everyone has growth and improvement areas, including our own opportunities, is the first and biggest obstacle to overcome.

 

Do you want to heighten your self-awareness through coaching?  At first glance, this second question may also seem rhetorical but it is not: recognition of blind spots, room for improvement or new areas of discovery does not equate to action.  In fact, you may be afraid or unwilling to take action.  In my experience, clients must address their fears to achieve desired goals.  Recognizing, let alone overcoming, fear is not easy nor obvious to clients – the nature of fear is to avoid.  Your receptivity to coaching through these fears will largely affect the change to your desired mindset.

 

Last but not least, are you motivated to proactively change your paradigm?  This is an important phase because it is where positive transition and change occur.  A coach and client can achieve a great deal of learning and client self-awareness through conversations, but the best coaching relationships also commitment to action and establishing accountability for improvement.  This is also the section where a coach can provide a lot of support.  A coach helps clients identify and work through obstacles to change.  The answer ultimately lies within the client, but an effective coach will use effective questions so that the client realizes and commits to true actions of growth.

 

If you are true to yourself and able to answer these three questions affirmatively, then you ready for coaching and will be part of a growing group of successful clients who has benefitted from the coaching process.  So let me end with a call to action – schedule a discovery session with a coach that you have chemistry with and ask whether you are ready for coaching.

As originally posted for The Executive Coaches Group (http://executivecoachesgroup.com/are-you-ready-for-coaching/)

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 by Lawrence

Limitless Laowai Podcast (Episode 250): Negotiating an Expatriate Contract

Think before you sign … you only get one change to negotiate a contract

So you’ve got an overseas assignment offer on the table. Congrats! Now what? Assessing the offer can be a tough process of discernment to wade through from your home country—especially if you don’t know the right questions to ask. Listen to Episode 250 of the Limitless Laowai Podcast with Ally Mona. https://lnkd.in/ekkNyvS

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