As today’s business landscape becomes increasingly global, organisations need to train their employees to operate effectively from anywhere in the world.

With 40% of all overseas assignments failing, the cost of failure is high – the average cost of an expat assignment can amount to $311,000 per year. (INSEAD data from 2020) It makes financial sense for companies to ensure that they fully prepare and support expatriate employees before, during, and after their overseas assignments.

A successful global assignment drives both personal and professional development for the expatriate and business development for the company. Providing cross cultural training helps to decode the cultural differences that affect business’s success, avoid culture traps and bridge gaps.

Relocating is not just a physical move. It’s a carousel of change that involves the assigned professional and the family: away from their supportive network, facing language barriers, in a new city, environment and culture, they need to re-establish friendships and daily life routines that makes them, and their family feel at home.

Resistance to change and cultural shock symptoms can make them feel unhappy and angry, resenting the loss of their previous life and ultimately feeling stuck and not taking advantage of the new opportunities available around them. Ultimately it will impact both their professional and personal life.

How well the local team accepts and integrates with the expats also plays a crucial role in the overall success of the international assignment