#theculturemap

[wacky0214-blog]

The culture map

On Corporate Service Corp (CSC), you need to go through 17 modules as your pre-work, and one of the theme is “Cultural Adaptability.”

In the module, you will cover; - Learn and apply a framework for understanding cultural differences - Build awareness of cultural differences - Self awareness - Awareness of your team's cultural diversity - Awareness of your destination country's culture - Learn how Cultural Adaptability applies to your team and the culture of your destination country

As I went through the module, I thought of what I experienced for the past 7 years at IBM. I have been in couple of countries on business trip, and had opportunities to work with people from different background.

I sometimes got surprised to see colleagues going back home early even if they do not finish their work, or to be invited for coffee/tea very often while having a serious meeting.

I got surprised because I did not know they value family more than work, or being punctual. Also, I did not know they have coffee/tea-time culture to get to know each other. If I knew that, I would not get surprised a lot, and it would not be that hard to lead tasks with “too-easy-going” people.

To know more about these differences, and to know more about myself, I am now reading “The Culture Map” so that I can be more flexible to collaborate before joining CSC.

http://amzn.asia/hLjX0I9

For now, I will try to finish reading the book before CSC...

[obsessed-much]

Falling asleep when you’re 30

My day started with no alarm, which is arguably one of my favourite ways to wake.

A sneak peak at Slack and my work emails saw me tying up a few loose ends from the week - the perks of supporting a team in America. The edge taken off by a cup of coffee, which was brewed by a certain someone before they left for a morning spin class.

Soon I was settling back into my current read - The Culture Map (Erin Meyer). I won’t dive into this now, but let’s just say I gave it a 5 on Goodreads and have every intention of, not just referencing in the future, but also reading another one, two or three more times.

Content, pleased it was the weekend, I took my sweet time rolling out of bed and into my comfies for some yoga. To stretch, move and give these growing creaky joints a bit of love. Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know, I am still “young” that doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed that things have started feeling different.

All of this goodness in my morning, made for slightly less guilt as I slipped on my corduroy pinafore, blocked up all my visible skin and slung my picnic rug into my bag as I headed off to the Brewers Festival. Beer was consumed, a lot of really good beer - some of which made it back into our fridge in the form of takeaway cans. The combination of sun, shade, live (mostly good) music, cold brews and accessible food trucks made for a pretty content Sophie.

Because it was an afternoon festival, an early evening walk along the river saw us collecting some Korean Fried Chicken (which we regretted today). Settling into watch a movie… a movie that I am not sure I should mention because of how bad and embarrassing it was (blink and pretend you didn’t read this - Boss Baby), eating our chicken and in bed before 11pm.

Now, once upon a time… I likely would have consumed more alcohol than I did, heck, I definitely wouldn’t of stopped consuming alcohol when I did. Instead of Fried Chicken, kids movies and a pint of water, I likely would have been drawn in to a search to find the park party we could hear but not see on the way home. I probably would have gone to sleep not thinking about anything. If I was thinking, it would have been how much of a bloody good time I’d had, how much I love summer or whatever I had planned for next Saturday.

Instead, I went to sleep thinking ‘I hope I don’t feel too bad in the morning, I must remember to have a rehydration sachet when I wake because I really don’t think I’ve had enough water today and I was out in the sun for longer than I usually am’.

The thing is, all of this just makes me smile. Not a happy smile, or a sad smile. More of an amused smile - you are becoming what you were always told you would but never believed.

[miabelartistry]

Doing H/M on set for a live show today with the brilliant #erinmeyer author of the book #theculturemap. Fascinating topics and a #mustread for international business people! #setlife