Part 3 : Coping with Culture Shock
Parts 1 and 2 of our Culture Shock mini-series focused on two areas where #cultureshock can occur; working with people who are #cognitivediverse and joining a new organization where the company culture is very different to a previous organization you worked for.
In today’s final piece we look at symptoms of culture shock and how to overcome it.
I recall last year while coaching a US American who was on assignment near Venice for two years. As soon as our coaching call began, I could hear he was in a state of culture shock. Everything he said about Italy was negative, “You can’t eat anything but pasta”. “You can’t get anything done around here because everything closes at lunch time”. I asked him to tell me one factor that he had enjoyed about his two year stay in Venice and he could not come up with one single thing.
Why does culture shock happen?
Culture shock arises when the behaviour and communication of people we encounter clash with our cultural values, leading to negative reactions and criticism. We start to question our own values and therefore our identity. We become negative about everything and everybody around us that is linked to the other culture.
If ever you feel or hear yourself thinking and speaking so negatively constantly about either the organization you work for or a new country you are working in consider analyzing if it is culture shock you are experiencing. The picture linked to this post shows a list of symptoms often associated with culture shock:
If you start to see and feel these symptoms, speak to somebody about it. Speak to HR, speak to an intercultural coach, speak to your life partner. The sense of isolation in the list of symptoms is an important one. You don’t want to leave your hotel room or house, you hide indoors which means you don’t learn anything about the host country and the culture shock gets worse.
What can you do to overcome culture shock?
1. Prepare yourself about the cultural values of the country or organisation you are moving to.
2. Learn about different cognitive styles of communication. The better we understand the values of the group or person we are communicating with, the easier it is for us to understand why someone is behaving the way they do and not judge them. This removes the negativity that might otherwise pop into our minds.
3. Join groups where you can meet locals (e.g. join a choir, a group of cyclists?
4. When you feel something “strange” has happened to you, speak to a local about it, or someone who has been in the organization longer than you. Ask them how they interpret the situation.
5. Participate in cultural events offered by your organisation (team building events), and seek opportunities for cross-cultural learning
Culture shock is a very normal part of the adaptation process and you need to approach it with an open mind and willingness to learn. Once we have experienced it, and overcome culture shock, it can lead to personal and professional development.
(if you would like to read about my own personal reaction to culture shock follow here: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7151143322365902849?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
