How can you use your global leadership competencies to excel in international mobility?

1 Know yourself and your goals

Before you embark on an international assignment, you need to have a clear understanding of your strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. This will help you align your personal and professional goals with the expectations and objectives of your employer, your host country, and your team. You also need to assess your readiness and willingness to learn and change, as well as your tolerance for ambiguity and uncertainty. Self-awareness and self-management are essential for global leaders who want to overcome the potential stress and frustration of working abroad.

3 Build trust and relationships

Another key factor for successful international mobility is to establish trust and rapport with your colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. Trust is the foundation of effective collaboration and influence, especially in cross-cultural settings where there may be different expectations and preferences. To build trust, you need to demonstrate credibility, reliability, and empathy. You need to show that you have the knowledge, skills, and experience to deliver on your promises, that you are consistent and dependable in your actions and words, and that you care about the needs and feelings of others. You also need to communicate clearly and frequently, and listen actively and respectfully. Furthermore, you need to seek feedback and input from others, and acknowledge and appreciate their contributions and achievements.

4 Lead with vision and agility

As a global leader, you need to have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and how you want to contribute to your organization and society. You also need to communicate your vision effectively and inspire others to join you in pursuing it. However, having a vision is not enough. You also need to be agile and flexible, and able to adapt your vision and strategy to the changing circumstances and opportunities. You need to be proactive and innovative, and seek new ways of creating value and solving problems. You also need to be resilient and optimistic, and cope with the setbacks and challenges that may arise along the way.

5 Develop yourself and others

Working abroad is a great opportunity to develop yourself and others. You can learn new skills, gain new perspectives, and expand your network. You can also share your knowledge, experience, and insights with others, and help them grow and improve. To make the most of your international mobility, you need to have a growth mindset, which is the belief that you can improve your abilities and performance through effort and feedback. You also need to have a learning plan, which is a set of goals, actions, and resources that guide your learning process. Additionally, you need to seek and provide mentoring and coaching, which are forms of support and guidance that enhance your and others' learning and development.

Working abroad can be a rewarding and enriching experience, but it also requires you to use your global leadership competencies to excel in different cultural and professional contexts. By knowing yourself and your goals, learning about the culture and context, building trust and relationships, leading with vision and agility, and developing yourself and others, you can enhance your performance and satisfaction, and make a positive impact on your organization and society.