Europe Day 1

Day 1 in Europe was filled with culture from the beggining. After a long flight from the states we began our trip promptly at 8am Belgium time. Although the majority of the group was extremely tired we began at a local military museum. This was an oustanding experience and make you really think about how new our culture in the U.S is.

Although all of us would like to think we full of culture and open to change it is amazing what happens when you are forced to adjust. There is something very powerless being in a country in which they speak a different language and you look like a tourist simply by the way that you dress. Although the people have been extemely nice it is our responsibilty to understand we are guests in their world. I think it is imperative for leaders to encounter situations like this as they will grow horizontally as much as vertically.

Who is that?

In business sometimes people forget who they are. I do not mean who they are today but who they used to be and who others around them might think they are. Recently at a local wine tasting event a few of my peers and I worked to help out a local organization. The focus of the event was to raise money for a local YMCA. Although the event was a huge success it was the people who were in attendance who I found interesting.

Since the event was a wine tasting event the demographic was very specific. A quick scan would say median age 51, white, professionals, who were in attendance. There were people from very different professions, Lawn Care Owners, Attorneys, Stockbrokers, Bankers, CPAs, etc. However what I found to be interesting was the attention and thoughtlessness some of the patrons had. Some the the guests were very demanding, rude and to a point almost degrading. While others were extremely friendly willing to converse share stories and enjoy the event.

As a leader it is important to think about each time you have an experience with someone. These experiences will be the lasting impressions that people will judge you by. Sure some are fortunate to have extreme amounts of wealth however this does not by any means they are better than the person who is working the afternoon shift at the local mill. One of the problems when people interact in a way that is less than respectful is the immediate loss of credibility. Although these people might think they will never need help these are the ones that are likely to live a life that is full of material goods but is missing the true meaning of life.

If you treat everyone equally you will likely build relationships that are everlasting which translates into greater rewards than monetary gain.

International Experience

Today I am embarking on an international experience with a few colleagues from my MBA program. Although the experience will be unique for many of us the relationships that will be build through this experience will last a life time. These are times professionals need to enjoy the experience for what it is and remove any feelings they might have had going into the experience.

It will be very interesting to watch the dynamics of the group and how groups will split up. Good, bad or indifferent it will be interesting and it is likely some will not enjoy the experience which is unfortunate. Some of my peers travel internationally very often while others including myself do not. As a leader matures into their role they must think about the global impact of business or they will be left behind.

Lastly it will be the responsibility of the professors to engage the class into this outstanding learning experience. At this point in every one has a career and responsibility, some greater than others but the professors will need to understand this. If the professors do not demonstrate professional coaching and leadership during this experience they will have failed as leaders.

Relationships

In a recent study performed by our MBA program we were responsible for reviewing different cultures. In this analysis we were looking for common themes, like eating habits, work hours, management styles, etc. Although across the board these were very different there was one common them that had direct correlation.

Ability to take your time and build a relationship was apparent. In every culture people wanted to deal with people that they liked and who they trusted. This does not mean that you have to be the life of the party but you certainly need to be in attendance. So many times in business and leadership we forget about this factor and how truly important these relationships are. As a leader you have to be willing to adapt and mold to different circumstances and some of these are going to be tough to adjust to. I am by no mean saying you should change your core values however I am saying you should attempt to try things you might not be willing to accept as normal.

I remember being in Mexico recently and the clubhouse asking if I would like to play golf with someone who I did not know. 10 years ago I would have refused the offer and it is unlikely I would have even thought about playing golf by myself. In this situation I took them up on the offer and was able to play golf with some local citizens. Although we did not speak due to language differences the rules were the same and we could acknowledge each other after a successful hole.

Build relationships and try something new and you will break barriers you did not even know existed.