Thriving Abroad

Evelyn Simpson, Louise Wiles

Description

The essential guide to help employees considering relocating internationally for work achieve personal and professional success abroad.

Thriving Abroad supports one of life's greatest challenges: international relocation.  It guides and inspires employees and their partners who are relocating internationally for work through a three-part framework designed to create personal and professional success abroad.

Sujets

• Gestion d'équipe
• Personal Management
• Human Resources
• Gestion et management
• Worldwide
• Economics
• Business
• Foreigner

Informations

• Publié par: Practical Inspiration Publishing
• Date de parution: 14 juin 2017
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781910056790
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

Thriving Abroad
The definitive guide to professional and personal relocation success
Louise Wiles Evelyn Simpson
First published in Great Britain by Practical Inspiration Publishing, 2017
© Louise Wiles and Evelyn Simpson, 2017
The moral rights of the authors have been asserted.
ISBN (print): 978-1-910056-57-8
ISBN (ebook): 978-1-910056-56-1
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the authors.
Praise for Thriving Abroad
‘This book is an important new resource in the toolbox of HR and other relocation specialists. As we give our relocated staff the opportunity of new career paths, new skills and at the same time allow spouses and dependents to fill their own roles within the process, “information is power” and this book includes powerful information.’
Bud Chapman, Welfare Officer, CfBT Education Services, Brunei Darussalam
‘As we are preparing to return home after 3 years in a host country, I wish I had known some of the questions to ask that Louise and Evelyn write about. The single biggest realisation in this journey is that none of us are alone. Wherever you are going and for whatever reason, someone else has been there before, so listen to the lessons in this book and make them part of your journey.’
Pam Barmby, SAHM, South Africa
‘Everything you need to know about the practical pitfalls of that job move abroad in one place.’
Peter Ferrigno, former Global Mobility Partner, EY
‘After reading this book you will know what you don’t know now! Being an expat is a great experience in life but starting to live as an expat is quite a challenge. This book will help you to address all the issues and make your stay abroad a success. Don’t be discouraged. Your preparation is a lot of work. Louise and Evelyn are the experts helping you!’
Carine Bormans, expat for 30 years and coach for expat families
‘This is a rare book among a wide variety of books on global mobility. Thriving Abroad focuses on making the right decision and your preparation. You can read it before going to whatever country. It is just as important whether moving to Germany or Oman. The book provides you with all the questions you need to prepare well. There is a direct link between your preparation and how well you settle in. Read and use the book and it will become – as the title says – a guide to relocation success.’
Lena Lauridsen, consultant and author of two books on relocation
‘It’s an indispensable read for the assignees and their partners, a book to keep handy in the messiest moment of a family’s life. With its check lists and adaptation strategies, it’s a great tool for coping with rationality and order to change and transition.’
Marta Guarneri, expat with 20 years of experience both as assignee and partner
‘If you are considering an overseas assignment this excellent resource will quickly become your handbook. Offering comprehensive, accessible advice on all aspects of ensuring that your life abroad will be as successful and happy as possible, it will prompt you to consider and discuss the many important decisions to be made that can often be rushed or overlooked in the excitement and chaos that international relocation can bring. Whether you are just considering a move, are in the throes of planning or have recently arrived and are deep in culture shock, this book provides balanced and reassuring advice that you will undoubtedly find helpful.’
Vanessa Dennet, expat partner
‘I wish this book had been written sixteen years ago when we first relocated; it could have saved us learning a lot of lessons the hard way! This book will prove invaluable for anyone considering an overseas move and will help them organize their thoughts in what can be an entirely overwhelming process.’
Suzanna Standring, Chartered Accountant, USA
‘ Thriving Abroad superbly manages a difficult task. It takes a difficult, emotionally loaded topic; collects the best research and knowledge around the subject; and collates it all in a very comprehensive, practical guide. It does all of that in a user-friendly tone and format laced with anecdote, so the intimidating topic becomes easy to read. This is going to be my go-to, well thumbed through reference book for our next move. I’ll be carrying it with me everywhere!’
Maryam Afnan Ahmad, co-author Slurping Soup and Other Confusions, teacher, trainer
Contents
Foreword by Chris Debner
A note from the authors
Acknowledgements
Who and how?
Who this book is for
How to use this book
How this book is structured
Introduction
Welcome
Case studies
Introducing the Framework for Thriving Abroad
Summary
PART ONE: Putting International Relocation into Context
Chapter One: Gearing up for success
Jenny and Paul
Introduction
Differing perspectives on international assignment success
What does it mean to thrive abroad?
Summary
Chapter Two: Opportunity
Rich and Angela
Introduction
Global mobility, then and now
The global mobility opportunity: Who and why?
Understanding why assignment opportunities arise
Benefits of international mobility
Summary
Chapter Three: Challenges
Jenny and Paul
Introduction
A few words about expatriate adjustment
Relocation hotspots
Summary
Chapter Four: The global mobility function
Rich and Angela
Introduction
What does global mobility do and what does global mobility not do?
How does global mobility work?
What questions do you need to ask your global mobility partners?
Working with your global mobility function
Summary
Chapter Five: Should I stay or should I go?
Jenny and Paul
Introduction
The Five Pillars decision-making process
Communication
Decision time
Summary
PART TWO: Making It Happen
Chapter Six: The logistics of moving – more than fitting life into a box
Rich and Angela
Create a system to prepare for the logistics of the move
Prepare yourself legally and financially
Prepare for your career move
Prepare on behalf of others
Prepare for a soft landing
Summary
Chapter Seven: Preparing for the emotions of moving
Jenny and Paul
Relocation: a life-changing event
Preparing for the adjustment to your new life
Summary
PART THREE: Arriving to Thriving Abroad
Chapter Eight: Unpacked but not settled – riding the waves of change
Rich and Angela
Understanding the three ways that adjustment impacts on you
Why acknowledging our needs matters
Recognizing what you need and some suggested strategies
Support provided by your organization
Support that you create for yourself
Summary
Chapter Nine: Thriving abroad for assignees
Jenny and Paul
Managing the professional aspect of the assignment experience
Looking to the future
Moulding the future you
Developing your strategy for career success
Keeping it current
Summary
Chapter Ten: Thriving abroad for the expat partner
Rich and Angela
How is your life abroad serving you now?
Challenges for expat partners
Turning challenges into opportunities
How do you want your international life to serve you in the future?
What will give you the sense of fulfilment that you seek in life?
What are the possibilities?
Strategies for moving forward professionally
Summary
Chapter Eleven: Connecting the dots and moving forward
Introduction
Relocation ready
Arriving to thriving abroad
Support beyond the book
Appendix 1: Glossary of global mobility terms
Appendix 2: Resources
References
Index
About the Authors
Foreword

‘It is beyond a doubt that all our knowledge begins with experience.’ Immanuel Kant
I fully subscribe to this timeless observation of the late German philosopher. After my education in Germany I worked in India, Turkey, the Czech Republic and Switzerland. I do not regret any of the experiences I had in these countries. Of course, there were challenging situations, but they made me who I am today.
During my career, spanning over 20 years, I have advised more than 100 companies in 34 countries and assisted their mobility functions to become more strategic and to do a better job for their most important stakeholders, the international assignees and their families.
My personal experience of living and working in different countries and cultures helps me relate to my work as a strategic global mobility adviser. Having relocated on a range of different bases – as a Local Plus in India, a Euro commuter to Turkey and a fully fledged expat in the Czech Republic before finally being localized into Switzerland – I understand the decisions that companies take in defining the employee experience. Mobility strategies, policies, delivery models: all these elements have a great impact on the employee experience of an assignee and his or her family.
I have drawn two key insights from my experience. First, it’s important to acknowledge the decision-making process and culture. Most of the decisions in mobility departments are based on four distinct criteria: cost, risk, complexity and attractiveness. Second, both country and compa