Why Your Expats Say That the Cross-Cultural Training Didn’t Help

If you’ve received feedback from your expats that,“The cross-cultural training didn’t really help,” you’re not alone. Companies often invest in cross-cultural training programs, but when employees are on the ground (or figuratively, if virtual), those efforts fall short. Why? Because traditional training focuses too much on surface-level “dos and don’ts”—without equipping people to navigate real-world cultural complexities.

The Real Issue: Cultural Agility, Not Just Awareness

Most cross-cultural programs teach general etiquette: how to greet colleagues, what not to do, and local customs. While useful, these tips don’t prepare expats for the nuanced challenges they face every day. Success abroad requires cultural agility—the ability to read situations accurately and adapt in real time.

From our research, we found that culturally agile professionals use three main approaches:

·      Adaptation: Adjusting behavior to fit local norms (e.g., being more indirect in a Japanese sales pitch).

·      Minimization: Upholding universal standards (e.g., enforcing safety protocols across different regions).

·      Integration: Blending elements from multiple cultures (e.g., joint design projects between U.S. and German teams).

These strategies enable expats to be flexible and effective, even when faced with unexpected cultural differences. But agility isn’t something learned in a quick pre-departure session; it’s developed through ongoing practice and real-world experiences.

A Better Way: Developing Cultural Agility with myGiide

To bridge the gap, companies need to invest in deeper, more practical training tools. myGiide helps professionals build cultural agility by guiding them through real-world scenarios and offering strategies to navigate cultural nuances. Unlike traditional training, myGiide focuses on skill-building—helping users adapt, connect, and collaborate across different cultural contexts.

For example, rather than memorizing facts about Chinese etiquette, a U.S. engineer can use myGiide to develop skills like perspective-taking, allowing them to understand and adapt to the communication styles of Chinese colleagues. It’s about learning how to think in new contexts, not just what to do.

Make Cultural Agility Part of Your Strategy

If you want expats to succeed, rethink how you approach cross-cultural training. Start by:

·      Integrating Cultural Agility into Talent Management: Make it an ongoing development priority for all employees, not just expats.

·      Using Practical Tools Like myGiide: Go beyond surface-level tips to build real skills.

·      Fostering Mentorship Across Cultures: Pair employees with international mentors to learn through experience.

Traditional training often leaves international assignees feeling unprepared because it doesn’t build the deeper skills needed to thrive across cultures. By focusing on cultural agility and leveraging tools like myGiide, companies can prepare their teams not just to survive but to excel in any cultural setting.