The Essential Guide to Global Dexterity

© Andrew L. Molinsky 2016 All rights reserved

We know a lot about culture and cultural differences

Differences in How We Think

Differences in Expressing FeelingsI’m British and this American chap is getting just a bit

too close…

Differences in Rituals and Non-Verbal Behavior

Why isn’t he looking at me in the eyes???

We don't see the world as it is. We see the world as we are

We Know a Lot About Differences

But….

We don’t know as much about the challenges of ADAPTING behavior across cultures…. in light of these

differences

© Andrew L. Molinsky, 2015 9

And that’s where Global Dexterity comes in…

© Andrew L. Molinsky, 2015 10

Global Dexterity is…

The ability to adapt your behavior – smoothly and successfully – to the demands of a foreign culture, without losing yourself in the process

But it’s easier said than done

For example…

From a Vietnamese MBA Student Talking About Speaking in Class

I know participating in the US is required to get good grades but somehow deep inside I felt like I was doing something very wrong. I was trembling, sweating. I just could not look at the professor or my classmates in the eyes. I felt guilty.

From an Indian Professional Trying to Promote Himself at a Networking

Event in the US

I feel that I am performing a sin, trying to become something that I am not, being artificial and fake. I try to sell myself bragging about my abilities to a stranger and that feels so weird and selfish to me. It makes me feel like I am doing things to achieve my objectives at all cost

From an American Executive Trying to Give German-Style Feedback

In the US we do the sandwich approach. But in Germany, there’s no pre-amble, no protecting anyone’s ego. Just the blunt, direct message of “I don’t like that.” Or “that will not work.”

And it doesn't feel good to deliver that message. I felt like an ogre – or like a hostile witness at a trial. From the German perspective, it was being honest. But I didn’t feel comfortable at all doing it.

© Andrew L. Molinsky, 2013

© Andrew L. Molinsky 2013 All rights reserved

And this leads to what I call the “paradox” of Global Dexterity

To adapt your behavior, you need to be flexible.

But it’s very hard to be flexible when the very experience of adapting

behavior is so stressful!

For example: Think about a time when you were very stressed about

something.

Was that your most “creative” or “flexible moment”?

Probably not!

Or at least I know it’s never that way for me.

And that’s the same challenge with Global Dexterity.

Want a solution? A way out?

I’d love you to check out my book:

Or my blogs and articles

And let’s connect on @andymolinsky

Thanks so much for watching!