They say travel broadens your horizons, and nowhere is this truer than when your career takes you to different countries and exposes you to new, and sometimes challenging, cultures.

Amyon Chaffey knows this better than most. In the course of his fascinating career, he has worked as a CFO and finance leader in no fewer than five countries, including England, the US, China and Singapore. He has overcome challenging compliance, economic and commercial business environments, and has enjoyed great career success in each one of his undertakings.

He recently chatted to The Outperformer about what it took to successfully uproot and transplant himself into these undoubtedly diverse environments. Some of the key points he touched on during his enlightening interview were:

The core skills that any company in any country will need from the CFO

• Fundamental leadership skills of the CFO that adapt across cultures
• Driving commercial performance on a global platform
• Alignment of strategy across multinational and matrix reporting structures

Adapt Or Die – Core Skills To Leverage For Cross Cultural Success

Never Stop Learning

Amyon believes that no matter how much you know (or think you know!) about the industry in which you work, you never know enough. “Being a constant learner, and being curious, are very important,” he says. 

Integrate Quickly

This is where listening well and asking good questions are vital skills. “Start conversations on a non-emotional basis,” advises Amyon. “Be aware of the politics, but steer clear of them. People are often defensive, but it’s important to remain approachable. Never get too aggressive when making your point, and choose your moments to really put your foot down. Remember it’s not about you, it’s about the company, but you still care about the people in the company. That is a very important message to get across.” 

Find Out Who You’ve Got

Amyon cautions against thinking you have a good understanding of the culture you’re going into, regardless of your preparation or past experience.

“When I moved to Singapore from China, I thought I knew what to expect,” he says. “Singapore is English speaking and 70% Chinese. I had just come from China, so I thought, ‘how different can it be?’ Turns out it was very different.”

Not making assumptions is critical, and what worked to motivate one team in one country, may completely miss the mark with another team in a different country.

“In Hong Kong, people are generally motivated by their earning capacity,” says Amyon. “This is why providing training to enhance skills is so successful. In Singapore, there is a different work ethic and a different attitude towards life. The emphasis was more on lifestyle than on money.”

So Amyon introduced quarterly social events that got everyone out of the office. “This was a great opportunity to connect with people in a completely different way, and gave them a sense of community, which is very important to them.” 

Are International Assignments Right for Everyone

From the outside, the opportunity to work in a new country looks very shiny and appealing, and many people actively look for international assignments. But it’s important to be motivated by more than money and title, and there are a few key things to consider before taking the plunge. 

Be Clear On Why You Want To Go

“If you want it purely for professional reasons, make sure you’re prepared to take full advantage of all the opportunities an international posting provides,” says Amyon, “even if this means coping with less than favourable personal circumstances.” Being newly married, or having children, puts potential pressure on your professional performance, so think very carefully about how easily you can blend your personal and professional lives in a foreign environment. 

Prepare As Much As Possible

Rule number one is to get as much information upfront as possible. “Talk to people who have lived or worked where you’re going,” advises Amyon. “Learn as much as possible about the industry you’re going into. Even if it’s the same as the one you’re in now, it’s important to understand what the nuances of it are in the country you want to work in.”

Learning a foreign language isn’t easy, but taking the time to at least try can go a long way to gaining the respect of the people you work with.

“It’s important to demonstrate effort,” says Amyon. “There’s a cultural connection inherent in being able to speak the language.”

Embracing the Challenge

Even the most seasoned professionals will face challenges in new environments, and Amyon was no exception.

“When I joined Swire, I went from managing what was really only a handful of people to suddenly being in charge of many people in multiple departments, some of which I hadn’t worked in before,” he says. “This is when I learned very quickly that you can’t prepare for everything. The research I did in the six weeks prior to taking up my new position prepared me to some degree, but until I was actually there, I really had no idea what to expect.”

Amyon also encountered challenges from the people he worked with. “It’s not always easy to come in as an outsider and be in charge of people who’ve been with the company a long time, and in senior positions,” he says. “Sometimes you face resistance from employees who feel your job should have gone to them. Sometimes you want to let someone go whom everyone else believes is critical to the company.”

But these challenges are all part of the rich tapestry that makes up living and working in different countries and cultures. The world is your oyster!

You can listen to Amyon’s entire interview on our webinar page, which can be accessed by our members.