How do you develop global skills in your employees?

1 Assess your current situation

Before you start developing global skills in your employees, you need to understand your current situation. What are the global challenges and opportunities that your organization faces? What are the gaps and strengths in your existing talent pool? How do you measure and reward global performance? You can use various tools and frameworks, such as global competency models, cultural audits, or global readiness assessments, to evaluate your current state and identify your priorities.

2 Define your goals and expectations

Once you have a clear picture of your current situation, you need to define your goals and expectations for developing global skills in your employees. What are the specific global skills that you want your employees to acquire or improve? How do they align with your organizational strategy and values? How will you communicate them to your employees and stakeholders? How will you monitor and evaluate their progress and impact? You can use SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) criteria to set your goals and expectations.

3 Provide learning opportunities and support

Developing global skills in your employees requires providing them with various learning opportunities and support. You can use a mix of formal and informal methods, such as training, coaching, mentoring, feedback, peer learning, or online resources, to help your employees acquire and practice global skills. You can also offer them opportunities to work on global projects, assignments, or teams, where they can apply their global skills in real situations and learn from different perspectives and experiences. You should also provide them with adequate support and guidance, such as cultural orientation, language assistance, or relocation services, to help them overcome any challenges or barriers.

4 Recognize and reward global skills

Another important aspect of developing global skills in your employees is recognizing and rewarding them for their efforts and achievements. You should acknowledge and appreciate their contributions to the global success of your organization, and celebrate their milestones and accomplishments. You should also provide them with constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement, and help them identify their areas of development and growth. You should also link their global skills to their career progression and opportunities, and show them how they can advance their global careers within your organization.

5 Foster a global culture

Finally, developing global skills in your employees also involves fostering a global culture within your organization. You should promote and model the values and behaviors that support global collaboration, diversity, and inclusion, such as respect, curiosity, openness, adaptability, or empathy. You should also create and maintain a global network of communication and information sharing, where your employees can exchange ideas, insights, and best practices across borders and regions. You should also encourage and empower your employees to take ownership and initiative in their global learning and development, and support them in their personal and professional goals.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?