How A Third Culture Kid’s Natural Cross Cultural Vision Can Power Your International Business Expansion

Last updated 20 August 2008

Would you like a secret weapon to help power your international business expansion?

Are you wondering if there is one simple thing you could add to your current business mix that would help you a lot throughout the whole process?

What if you had a unique cross cultural vision tool in your pocket?

Third Culture Kids

Working with a Third Culture Kid could be the solution for your company.

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) aren’t children. It is a term used in international environments. It is used generally to describe people that grew up in strong international environments.

TCK’s are the children of parents from one culture living in a second culture, and their need to find their own identity in their specific third culture. The term can also go beyond this to refer to people who grew up exposed to different cultures early on in life.

Benefits For Your Companies International Development

Growing up in such environments means these people have a unique skill set.

They have the natural ability to see things from different cultural points of view. They probably do not have one strong national outlook. They immediately look at a situation and be aware of several different cultural points of view.

Even if TCK’s are working in a culture they are unfamiliar with, they will be quicker at understanding the different cultural points of view than someone without cross cultural experience.

This means that TCK’s understand the different expectations in politeness, in respect, in professional behaviors. And they are able to adjust their own behavior, often instantaneously, to navigate through these differences.

Having a TCK on your team should help you avoid cultural communication blunders. Or at least pick up on them faster and learn how to navigate through them effectively.

Differences With Others And Their Approach

People without international experience might think cross cultural communication is only about learning about the manners expected of you in foreign place and the local traditions.

Flexibility and adaptability have more to do with your international business success. Understanding why people behave differently is more important what you see them do differently than yourself.

People with confirmed international experience tend to be more curious, adaptable and quick learners. This can bring your company the fuel it needs to go international if your company is truly motivated to adapt to the international mindset.

Right Adaptation Needed To Work With Third Culture Kids

TCKs are a breed of their own. They are used to navigating in different waters. They can be freedom lovers. They might think your set of rules and orders obsolete, simply because they have been there, done that and moved on to something else.

Does this mean Third Culture Kids’s are prima donnas? No, that would be forgetting one of their main qualities: their deep rooted ability to adapt to different environments. Simply, this will be a cross cultural relationship.

If your company is firmly rooted in one cultural environment you will need to pay attention to how the TCK and your company work together. If your company’s drive is strong enough to go international, your company’s mindset will be open to other cultures.

A Little Effort For A Great International Business “Tool”

The little bit of adjustment you will have to make to work with a Third Culture Kid is well worth the extra vision he will bring to your international business.

Your international communication will be smoother and bring faster results. Third Culture Kids with the right background for your company will probably also provide you with valuable international business insights.

If you are looking for an easy way to speed up your company’s international mindset, working with Third Culture Kids can help put your international business expansion in top gear.

Don’t forget to check out the Cross Cultural Negotiation 101 Guide for articles and tips on international negotiations.

• Cross Cultural Negotiation 101

Other articles on Cross Cultural Communication you may like to read:

• Your Guideline For Successful First Time Cross Cultural Negotiations In Any Culture
• The Most Important Tip For International Sales Negotiations
• How To Prevent Most Cross Cultural Miscommunication By Examining Your Own English Communication
• How To Learn From Intercultural Communication Difficulties
• How Digital Age Communication Wrecked Havoc In Multicultural Communication
• 3 Types Of International Communication For International Business Success Online