To begin with, one should face the fact that to understand what makes foreign colleagues tick, there is no substitute for learning their language, reading books produced by the culture and familiarising oneself with the country's basic history. This means a sizeable investment not so much in financial terms as in time. Members of an international team, once they are familiar with the national profile, should be advised of the cultural traits of their partners. One's first step towards adaptation must at the very least be to avoid irritants. Common sense, good breeding and a modicum of unhurried thought are all useful resources for avoiding behaviour that might prove irritable to our partners.
Different cultures have diverse concepts of leadership.
Leaders can be born, elected or trained and groomed. Others seize power or have leadership thrust upon them. Among the tasks of a manager are the necessities of instructing, motivating and leading his subordinates. He may often lead by example, but as far as motivation and the issuance of directives are concerned, he will be heavily dependent on language. Different languages are used in different ways and with a variety of effects.