As director of more than 110 international employees in more than 20 countries in my former job as an IT executive with a major U.S. corporation, I discovered managing an international staff presented an entirely new challenge. However, the job goes more smoothly when you hire local staff familiar with local business practices, cultural influences, language and customs. These factors make it difficult for someone from the outside to be accepted. While it's important to understand country-specific differences, it's even more critical to make sure new hires are already familiar with local issues where they'll be working. Corporate executives may not be able to recognize every nuance of different cultures.
Language barriers Finding good people is as difficult in many other countries as it is here.
Although many international corporations require all new hires to speak English, you can't expect perfect English to be spoken. As managers, we need to be aware of the problems associated with English as a second language. Simple changes, such as eliminating slang in our terminology and speaking more slowly, greatly improve our ability to communicate. Providing an environment where questions are encouraged and making sure staff knows that language differences are accepted as part of being an international company can help improve communication. Unique customs Second, understanding country-specific customs and laws can be onerous.