Culture shock and how it can influence effectiveness
Culture shock is a collection of emotional reactions which makes someone lose their own culture and take up new cultural practices which have little or no meaning to their lifestyle. Those affected feel helpless, irritable as well as fear being cheated on, injured, disregarded, boredom, homesickness, excessive sleep, withdrawal and hostility.
It is worth noting that the phenomenon is normal but unpleasant; in most cases, nonetheless, culture shock do have positive implications. These include; improving ones learning experience, enhancing self-efficacy and increase intercultural understanding.
In the context of positively impacting on learning experience, the affected person desire to go to a different place having different culture than what one is used to will help them to be in a different environment and get to learn new things. Secondly, when engaging in the efforts of trying to get culture shock or adapt it, this makes one seek for knowledge, skill as well as changing attitude (Adler & Gundersen, 2008). All these positively impact on one’s ability hence being effective.
It also increase ones intercultural understanding, if they actively mingle with the host, one learn a lot of things from the other and vice versa. This in the long ran creates mutual understanding between the individual and can translate to peace and harmony in various involved cultures or countries. Self efficacy is attained by knowing culture of others.
Expatriate Spouse
The job market have become more competitive by the day hence there is desire to pursue recognizable careers and increased need to have qualified manpower has made countries receive people from other countries to do business or venture in other fields such as diplomatic relations, international teaching (Carmen, 1998). Most of those involved are married people and they have families. It is therefore fair for the expatriates to be accompanied by their spouses.
Such people are considered being second class citizens. According to Huw Francis they are expected to behave like employees though they are free agents. Expatriate spouses do face culture shock in addition to the following problems. Lack or difficulties in acquiring work permits, language barriers, and cultural differences, lack of employment or discrimination as locals seem to be given higher priority, in some cases their certificates (education) or licenses are not compatible (NCREL, 2003). Most of these problems are often ignored as only very few companies can offer support for spouses at such difficult moments.
This makes such individual feel isolated, unsupported, unrecognized and let down because they belief they were given inaccurate information. The problems faced can be dealt with when the affected person resort to proactive approaches instead of sitting and waiting and where companies can help, for instance paying for membership, help in acquisition of work permits is vital to make life of the expatriate spouse comfortably.
Requirements for success in the 21st Century
Success is attained by acquiring new skills and it’s not accidental as most people think about it, it is archived by continually acquiring new skills until the effects desired are realized. This is vital in the changing environment as those strategies used in 20th century cannot be useful today.
There are four skill clusters which are essential to success in the 21st century and they include; digital-age literacy, high productivity, inventive thinking and effective communication (Adler & Gundersen, 2008). Within the four skill clusters, there is sub-set of skills expected to be mastered.
Digital-age literacy (ability to read, write, speak and listen will require such skills as basic, economic, technological, scientific, visual, information, cultural literacy and global awareness. Inventive thinking, ability to reflect outside the box encompass higher-order thinking and rational thinking, risk taking, curiosity, adaptability and managing complexity, self direction and creativity. High productivity including skills in prioritizing, planning and organization results, ability to producing relevant and high quality products and effective use of real-word tools (Huw, 2000). Finally, effective communication improves; interpersonal skills, interactive communication, social and civic responsibility, team work and collaboration and personal responsibility which is vital for successful workforce in this 21st century.
References
Adler, N & Gundersen, A. (2008). International Dimensions Of Organizational Behavior. Mason: Thomson South-Western.
Carmen, G. (1998). Amigos-Culture Shock. Dept Of Counseling And School Psychology. Web.
Huw, F. (2000). Life As An Expat Spouse. Web.
NCREL. (2003). EnGauge 21st Century Skills: Literacy in the Digital Age. Napierville: Office of Educational Research and Improvement.