Back to the US

Well I guess I should have headed first to Plymouth and then set sail for America.  I have returned to the US this week, following my predominately London-based assignment of the past 3 years.  While I skipped the symbolic re-enactment in favour of the comfort of my airline seat, I must admit that I am feeling the same mixed emotions that my American forefathers must have felt centuries ago. And while it is pouring rain as I sit and write this from my DC office, I have to say that other adjustments are going to feel, well, foreign!

As any American, I went to the UK prepared for warm beer and bad food J.  But I found many other things that I wasn’t expecting...

• A society far more civil and respectful of individual differences than sometimes encountered in the US
• News that actually covers world events in an objective manner
• The proper pronunciation of ‘aluminium’ – though I still can’t say it without laughing
• Proper manners for queuing (ok, I’m still not really good at that)
• Football matches where someone doesn’t have to win for all to have a good time (sorry, Broncos fans)
• Shoe shopping in stores that actually carry my size
• The difference between my s’s and zed’s
• Why everyone appreciates British humor (humour!)
• The thrill of losing pounds (both in the gym and on Oxford St.)
• McDonald’s apple pies that are still fried (why do we still offer burgers and fries and feel a baked apple pie makes it all better….?)
• How to calculate proper margins on a bottle of Grey Goose
• 101 things to occupy myself in the rain
• Many new friends

Immersing yourself in a culture that is different from your own is an opportunity of a lifetime and I will forever be grateful to my extended UK family for making my time feel as if I belonged.  I will be back to the UK often, and I’m comforted in knowing that it will always feel like a second home.

I do look forward to my time in America, and catching up with family, friends and colleagues -- and most importantly, my dog!  Professionally speaking, there are exciting plans for our US operation and I will enjoy being close to the action.  And let’s face it -- the UK doesn’t have an IHOP, so really how long could that have lasted?

Those that have known me the longest were amazed I willingly embraced the opportunity to live abroad.  I typically prefer the comfort of my surroundings and routine, and I don’t like to eat anything that ‘mama didn’t cook’.  But as I reflect, I have to say how pleased I am that I went exploring.  It is one of the biggest learning opportunities one can experience.

I realize most people won’t get the opportunity to experience total immersion in a new culture – but one thing we can witness is the impact that cultural differences and personal histories have in our everyday workplace.  It seems that most of us come naturally from a position of feeling that the way we have always done something, or been taught to do something, is the best.   Certainly, as a proud American, I assumed we had it all figured out!  Opening your mind to consider that there are different, even better, ways of doing something is a reaction that should be cultivated.  Relocation just forces it in a big way!

In today’s world we are each surrounded by people of different backgrounds and beliefs, usually without leaving our own backyards.  Allow yourself the freedom to learn from others, their ‘norm’ and the collective power that diversity of thinking breeds.

Don’t mind your own business

Many of us in the workplace today were taught, from an early age, to ‘mind your own business’. I am reminded any time I am around children, frankly, how many times they ask the question ‘why’, with each successive response from the adult eliciting another ‘why’.  In my experience, this toing and froing typically ends in one of 2 responses – ‘stop asking why’, or ‘because I said so’.  As children, curiosity might have led us to ask penetrating questions that were purposefully valid for our development, but unfortunately the responses we were conditioned to receive were ‘mind your own business’. It was as if those questions were considered rude or just not appropriate. The upshot was we began to hold our tongue. So, are we worse off because of this?

Possibly scarred by this kind of experience, many employees still ‘hold their tongues’ in the workplace. They’ve learned a behavior that might not be that great as a consequence… They simply accept the status quo. They don’t ask ‘why are things done this way’? They don’t question the received wisdom.  In the worst cases, they don’t even bother paying attention anymore.

My view is that sometimes we shouldn’t mind our own business. Individuals should be encouraged to ask and truly understand ‘why?’. They should feel able to challenge the current practice, protocols or behavior without feeling they will be criticised for it. They may understand ‘what’ they’re supposed to do and ‘how’ they’re supposed to do it, but maybe ‘why’ they should do it simply hasn’t been explained to them!?  Asking questions can give them a clearer perspective on their own purpose at work and ultimately will help them understand what is needed, engage and do a better job.

For those who have worked most closely with me, they know that I will often take an opposing view (sometimes even to my own thinking) just to ensure that challenge is being encouraged in the workplace.  I can even recall a social experiment that I ran years ago in a work setting, where I secretly asked an influential member of the team to only use the word ‘why’ in a particular meeting.  What happened was amazing, every time a point or decision was raised, an influential role model said ‘why’ and what ensued was a more interesting debate and, dare I say, outcome of the meeting.

Are people in your organization wearing blinkers? Do they avoid speaking up? If so, they’re missing out - and so is your business… Performance improvements can be sparked by questions from every level of staff and understanding ‘why’ can help everyone do a better job.  It also means employees have to have the courage to ask ‘why’ and be nurtured by a culture that accepts that not minding your own business brings diversity of thinking and input, greater buy-in to the eventual direction, and ultimately greater understanding and connectivity of individuals to the business.