The globalization of business means companies have interests in other countries and it is necessary to have their people on the ground. It is well documented why understanding the values, attitudes and behaviours of people in various countries are key to knowing how to do business with them. Businesses take for granted that everyone’s culture is somehow an international culture of business. This is false. Each country and culture have different approaches to doing business.

Cross-cultural training has become a vital part of the expatriate relocation process. Businesses are realising the need to equip their employees with the cultural know-how to ensure a smooth transition process as well as maximising their effectiveness when in the new host country. With cross-cultural training, work is not negatively impacted and companies avoid costly mistakes.

1. Globalization has increased the importance of cross-cultural training due to the realization of the importance of cultural differences. Contrary to some popular belief, we are not all becoming the same: in fact, we are experiencing our differences more acutely than ever before.
2. The most successful businesses now and in the future will be those that maximize their most valuable resource – their staff. By offering staff cross-cultural training a business minimises stress, frustration, failed assignments, poor retention rates and low morale that can result when people take on overseas assignments without proper training.
3. Poorly prepared staff has a certain impact on the bottom line. A failed 3 year overseas assignment can cost a company upwards of £1 million. This does not even account for loss of business, impact on reputation and poorly managed work.
4. Important skills training such as man-management, client relationships, etc cannot be addressed properly through informal chat sessions between colleagues. In order to develop global skills one needs training administered by professionals with culture-specific expertise, trained to counsel individuals through difficult processes of adjustment.
5. Businesses need cross-cultural training because their competition is providing it to their people. Choosing between working with people who know how things are done “over there,” and novices with incorrect assumptions, which company will get the deal?

Marrying even within your own culture can be a challenging experience. Once you get past the wedding day and the romance you are left with the everyday task of loving somebody who is not like you. Differences can be a source of inspiration or conflict. But what are the challenges of marry into another culture? A desire to understand another’s culture will not prevent conflict. You have your own cultural beliefs that you bring to a relationship and you will in the first instance use that framework to judge a person or situation. However it is important to gather as much information about your partner’s culture as you can. For example their rituals, their religious beliefs, the role of extended family in your partner’s life and how much autonomy does your partner have in making decisions for their life. People in the West have a great deal of independence from their extended families. Those in the East value close family relationships. This will impact on your relationship.

Discuss issues like how much free time is normal in a relationship. Discuss your finances and whether both of you are going to work. How will you raise children? Where are you going to live and will there be the enough job opportunities for whoever is going to work. Communication is the secret to avoiding unnecessary conflict and to resolving conflict should it arise. Some cultures are more adept at direct communication than others. Nevertheless without some degree of commitment to discussing issues being made, your chances of a successful relationship become less and less.