Adapting to Another Culture for Managers: The Reflective Manager's Practice Sheet The adaptation process for leaders, international business people and students is long and complex. There has been a dramatic rise in the number of people transferring to different regions in their own country as well as overseas, along with the increase in international students, immigration and migration. As a future manager, you will need to learn how to work with people who are going through the adjustment process in a new country, city, region or culture. You may lead teams with individuals who are going through different stages of the adjustment process and need to provide advice or support as they perform their work responsibilities while adjusting to the new country, company and system. Great leaders reflect on their past experiences and learn from them. They look into their experience and learn what they did and how they may improve in the future. This continual improvement through reflection ensures we learn from our experiences. Managers with experience of cultural adaptation can be better leaders to their staff so their staff can better understand and deal with the transition they are going through. As a person who has moved and adapted to another culture, you have experiences, insights and strategies you can recall and use to support others. In this assignment you will use stages of the W-Curve to reflect on aspects of your personal journey and then you will provide some advice about how you would approach cultural adaptation differently if you could do it again. Pre-Arrival 1. Write a reflection of this stage. Here are some questions to help you focus on what to write about: (5 marks) a. Before you arrived what did you do to prepare for adapting to your new location Canada? b. What did you do to ensure you were ready for your goals of successful work/study? 2. What do you now realize you could have done differently or could improve on? (3 marks) Honeymoon period 1. Write a reflection of this stage. Describe the honeymoon period for you. How long it lasted, and the things you found most interesting, different or exciting? (4 marks) Culture-Shock 1. Write a reflection of this stage. ( 4 marks) a. What were the things that started to feel uncomfortable for you when you started to feel culture shock begin (explain what made it uncomfortable)? b. What aspects of your school life or work life were the most challenging when you were experiencing culture shock? (If you moved to a new culture, what Hofstede dimensions were most similar and most different?) 2. What would you advise someone who was going through the culture shock experience so that they could better understand what they are experiencing? (3 marks) Initial Adaptation 1. Write a reflection of this stage. Here are some questions to help you focus on what to write about: (4 marks) a. How did you recognize that you were starting to leave culture shock? b. What ways did friends and/or family play in helping you move out of culture shock into a better adaptation? 2. What did you do to start to better adapt and adjust to living here so that you could move out of culture shock (new skills at school, at work, in life)? (2 marks) Link to your life as a Leader When you become a manager you will have staff who are experiencing culture shock. Explain how you will use your knowledge and experience with culture shock and the adaptation process to be a better leader to staff who transfer internationally