Getting the best from International Employees

A challenge for Managers is to work out whether a problem with an overseas employee is because of poor skills, attitude, language or different cultural perspectives.

Bradford University has produced a guide to help managers understand the key cultural issues that could alter performance. (to get a copy email: c.l.haynes@bradford.ac.uk)

The guide covers particular issues such as the need to avoid loss of face with some cultures, how different cultures view success or failure and how some cultures have little grasp of teamworking.

For example, the guide quotes an employee who moved to the UK from Estonia. The employee was spoken to, by her Manager, in regards to making a greater contribution in the office. Her work was outstanding in every other way. The employee explained that as her country had moved out of communist culture, people did not trust each other in the same way and everyone concentrates on their own work and not helping each other.

Sometimes a Manager would not want to upset an employee so they don't say anything. The employee thinks they are doing a good job, because in their own country they would be told straight away if they were not doing something right.

Do you have employees in other countries? What have you found?

BizWiz
www.informgroup.com.au
www.boulterassociates.com.au