How can Acculturation Coaching
Support Your Relocation?
By
Nancy Morris
Acculturation Coaching is a specialist form of coaching that is specifically targeted at independent travelers, company employees and families who are relocating. They want to ensure that their goals are achieved, that their lives remain balanced and that they continue to grow and prosper throughout their journey. By putting into place what is most important, the transition becomes an opportunity for the traveler to evolve.
Sometimes, expatriates and sojourners experience culture shock, which can lead to dissatisfaction and an early return home. For companies who can spend as much as $1 million US dollars over a 2 year period to send an employee and his/her family to a country like Asia, failed assignments can equate to lost contracts, dissatisfied customers and huge losses. For the individuals, this may mean family conflict, lowered self-esteem, feelings of inadequacy and ambiguous goals. According to a survey of major American companies who assign employees abroad, the most common factors in assignment failure are partner dissatisfaction (96%), family concerns (93%), an inability to adapt (91%) and job performance (86%).
Coaching through this transition can be an effective means of reducing the risk of relocation disruption, for both corporate employees and independent travelers.
What is culture shock?
Whether moving across the world or across the country, culture shock presents one of the most unique and complex transitions we can face in our lives. As well as relocating, sojourners are also faced with career, family, social and often even language transitions. Culture shock is associated with stress, anxiety, confusion and feelings of being lost or out of place. It effects the way we think about ourselves and others, the way we interact and how we handle our emotions. Surprisingly to many, culture shock can show up even when relocating from one region to another within our own country - we assume "culture shock" only occurs when moving to a completely different country. The term "culture shock" was originally used in the 1950s to describe the physical and emotional discomforts often produced when a person moves from one cultural environment to another. There are several stages to culture shock from initial entry shock through acculturation and the subsequent re-adjustment following a return home. Each can be either on-going for different lengths of time, or appearing at clearly defined times. The progression is not usually linear, but fluctuating. Though described in different ways, the stages of culture shock are represented by the following similar characteristics:
- Honeymoon or Euphoric stage.
As imagined, this is the time period just before and just after the move that everything is new and exciting. Energy and enthusiasm are high and it feels, for the most part, like a holiday.
- Irritability/Hostility or Disintegration stage.
During this stage, there can be strong feelings of dissatisfaction and difficulty as any original excitement turns into discomfort. Generally thought of as the "culture shock", this stage can be recognized for difficulties in communication, impatience, anger, sadness and a feeling of incompetence.
- Adjustment stage.
A sense of direction as well as a sense of humor begins to re-emerge and the person may begin to feel a certain life balance.
- Adaptation stage.
This stage is signified by a feeling of increasing confidence and a sense of belonging. The individual will associate within the context of the new culture and find that many of the customs, habits and cultural practices are easily adopted and integrated.
- Re-entry shock.
When returning to "the starting point", people often experience "reverse culture-shock" whereby re-adjusting to the old culture is as hard, if not more difficult, than the original move.
One Step Further - Self-Shock
Like many transitions in life, such as developing from adolescence into adulthood, single life to married, becoming a parent, married life to single, bereavement, retirement and so on, we frequently ask ourselves "who am I?" But unlike the transitions we face at home, moving to a new cultural environment can turn from culture shock to "self-shock".
Imagine for a moment other changes and transitions you have faced in your lifetime. All the while, you were surrounded by family, friends and a community that, in effect, helped you find the answer to "who am I?" by sharing societal norms and standards. While you wrestled with the change, you were able to look at and tap into what was commonly understood and acceptable all around you.
At home we have a mirror which helps to validate and re-affirm us. Within a new environment, the mirror no longer exists. So, at a time when you are seeking the answer to the "who am I" question, your surroundings are asking "who are you?".
Moving begins with encountering a new environment and evolves into encountering a new you!
Factors
Why is it that some people have successful, adventurous relocations while others struggle? There are many answers to this question. Some key characteristics of an individual"s ability to successfully relocate include interpersonal skills and sociability, expectations and realistic short and long-term goals, pre-departure research, similar previous experience, flexibility, family communication habits, high levels of support, and focus of control. Ironically, the more self-aware an individual is, the higher likelihood of strong culture/self shock. At the same time, that strong self-awareness is utilized to progress through into successful acculturation.
Coaching
Acculturation coaches are uniquely placed to support company employees and families, both before and during a relocation. Corporations have been increasing their awareness of the needs and sensitivities of not only their overseas staff but the cultural diversities within teams and the perspectives of international virtual teams. Companies also have a role to play in ensuring repatriating employees and families are properly supported. In addition, independent travelers, who do not have access to corporate programs, benefit from acculturation coaching. By combining an awareness of the complexity of the transition with high level listening, access questioning and acculturation-specific coaching tools and resources, a coach can support their clients to remain successful through cultural change.
© 2001 Nancy Morris
About the author:
Nancy Morris is an Acculturation Specialist who works with people who are really ready to create an adventure from their relocation, in both their personal and professional lives. Her clients want to build on their success and remain focused and motivated throughout their journey. They want to maximize their unique opportunities and integrate into their new surroundings. They want to contribute to their new community as well as to their own lives.
Nancy has traveled and worked extensively throughout North America and Europe. She holds an honors degree in Psychology and is currently doing her Masters in Communication and Psychology. Nancy has achieved a high media profile as a coach and has had both television and radio series, discussing all aspects of coaching with audiences in the UK and North America. She has produced a tips booklet for reducing stress when relocating and is currently writing an acculturation-specific coaching book.
She is the International Student Liaison for Comprehensive Coaching U. Nancy's affiliation with the school has grown from a mutual passion for the global nature of the coaching profession.
She can be contacted by telephone on +44 (0) 28 7132 9288.
back to the main articles page
|
