Expatriate Culture Shock - Executive Search Headhunter

The Principals of Chalre Associates are well known and respected within the business community. Below are some examples of Public Addresses delivered by them at major events throughout the Asia Pacific region.

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, presented at the most recent Leading HR Summit in Singapore. The event was organized by the Singapore Human Resources Institute (SHRI) - the region's largest HR industry association. Richard was asked to provide attendees with a detailed overview of the burgeoning field of HR Outsourcing.

To review Richard's in-depth

presentation, click the icon below.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION & BENEFITS EXPO

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, was the Keynote Speaker of the most recent Executive Compensation & Benefits EXPO. Held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Singapore, the 2-day annual event is of interest to regional business leaders. Other featured presenters included Asia Pacific leaders from companies including Mercer, Gallup and HayGroup. Richard provided his views on the near term economic outlook for the SE Asia region and its impact on career progress for senior managers.

Download Richard's detailed presentation by clicking the icon below. (The event brochure is also available here.)

RECRUITING SENIOR MANAGERS IN SE ASIA

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, presented recently for the American Chamber of Commerce on the challenges of acquiring and developing senior managers in South-East Asia. The presentation covers global trends to more specific information relevant to fast growing sectors like Business Process Outsourcing. Richard's personal comments have been added on most slides.

To review Richard's in-depth

presentation, click the icon below.

The Executive Basics of HR Outsourcing

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, was the Keynote Speaker of this year's Regional HR Shared Services & BPO Conference. Held in Singapore, the event is the largest in Asia for the booming sector. To learn about the state of offshore outsourcing in Asia, view Richard's detailed presentation by clicking below.

To review Richard's in-depth

presentation, click the icon below. (The event brochure is located here.)

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, delivered the Keynote Address of Successful Shared Services. The event was a region-wide conference held in Singapore. Richard's presentation provided a broad overview of Shared Services as it relates to multinational companies and regional managers. The event featured Outsourcing Leaders from Reuters, Johnson & Johnson, Convergys and others.

To review Richard's in-depth

presentation, click the icon below. (The event brochure is located here.)

The Chairman of Chalre Associates, Richard Mills, provided his insights on Retention and Succession Management to business leaders in the booming city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

Richard Mills, Chalre Associates Chairman, was a featured speaker of this event, one of the largest IT/BPO related conferences in Asia.

He delivered a highly motivational presentation to describe the monumental opportunity that exists in the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector.

The most revealing information to come from the conference was the tremendous quality ratings being achieved by young Filipinos. Citigroup, HSBC, GXS, Siemens and others reported world beating performance rankings from their Philippine facilities.

Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates, was asked to address the annual convention of the Semiconductor & Electronics industry association (SEIPI) in 2006. The sector is the largest in Philippines accounting for 70% of the nation's export earnings and 34% of GDP.

Richard's presentation discussed the future outlook for Philippines and the specific impact of the booming Business Process Outsourcing industry. He provided an optimistic view of the economic situation over the next couple years.

To review Richard's in-depth presentation, Click Here.

Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P) organization is the main umbrella association for the Philippines IT-enabled services/BPO industry. It is the second largest such association in Asia.

Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates, was asked to address BPA/P to provide his insight on the fast moving sector in the country.

He spoke along with Beth Lui, Country Managing Director of Accenture, whose company employs 7000 people in Philippines. Richard's presentation was titled: “Philippines as an Outsource Destination - What CEO's Really Think”.

To review Richard's in-depth presentation and to learn more about the current views of Senior Decision Makers in the BPO Sector in Asia, Click Here.

C o n t a c t U s

+ 632 822 4129

leaders@chalre.com

Expat Culture Shock

Challenges in Expatriate Postings

Expatriate

Culture Shock

It is common for even the most flexible of people to endure a period of stress on their first expatriate posting in an unfamiliar country. Culture shock is the common name of the psychological affliction that results when people become anxious and confused in a strange environment with different customs and beliefs than their own. They experience homesickness, depression, irritability and frustration during an extended period of adjustment.

This condition is the primary cause of expatriate failure. On-the-job performance can be dramatically reduced or the posting can be abandoned altogether.

The process of adjusting from a so-called advanced country to an emerging one is considered more traumatic that moving from one rich country to another. Moving from Germany to France is not as big a deal as moving from Sweden to Bangladesh, in other words.

Gladly, the emerging countries of Southeast Asia have come a long way over the years and the main cities where most expatriates live often appear like mini-developed countries. That said, there are acute and deep-seated differences that will cause emotional trauma to many new expatriates.

Stages of

Expatriate Adjustment

Phase 1:

Honeymoon
Period Lasting: 4 to 6 weeks (depending on the individual)

In the Honeymoon phase, expatriates are excited to be in the new country and fascinated by its sights and sounds. Most expatriates relocating to emerging countries in Southeast Asia will experience a relative increase in status and standard of living. They will probably have household servants and personal drivers for the first time. As well, employers usually fund a portion of expatriates’ living costs so they feel wealthier than in their home countries.

For these reasons and others, expatriates feel good about themselves and their family situation in this first brief period of expatriation.

Phase 2:

Culture Shock
Period Lasting: 6 to 8 months (depending on the individual)

Within a month or so of arrival, the honeymoon phase ends and expatriates quickly begin to comprehend the magnitude of the barriers they face to doing their jobs. They discover that methods used successfully over their entire careers are either worthless or even destructive in another cultural environment. The result is expatriate managers who are severely emotionally distressed and ineffective at their jobs.

And then it gets worse. When expatriates arrive home from their hard days at the office, they are usually faced with family members who are as traumatized than they are. And, each one is expecting to be saved by the person who is responsible for bringing them to the strange country.

The combination of severe adjustments at both work and home results is classic culture shock symptoms: frustration, anger, confusion, distust of others, etc., etc.

Phase 3:

Gradual Adjustment
Period Lasting: 1 to 2 years (depending on the individual)

During this phase, expatriates slowly regain their self-confidence and effectiveness in a steady but difficult process. Through trial and error, and by building relationships with experienced expatriates and helpful local people, they gradually come to understand the need to adapt themselves to the local culture before trying to manage it. Expatriates eventually come to appreciate local language, cuisine and business practices.

Phase 4:

Basic Competence
Period: 2 to 4 years from start of posting (depending on the individual)

Basic Competence in the practices of business in any country takes years. This is especially so in emerging countries where the rules of the game are not clearly stated or fixed, and very dependant on the vagaries of personal relationships. Despite the challenges, most expatriates are able to develop functional proficiency in the local environment within a couple of years from relocation.

Phase 5:

Mastery
Period: 5 to 7 years from start of posting (depending on the individual)

For expatriate leaders to make substantial and sustainable progress, they generally need strong relationships with people in positions of influence within their own organizations and outside of it. This requires a lot of time. Various studies and experience has shown that at least 5 to 7 years are necessary to develop deep appreciation of the country and its opportunities.

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Executive Search & Management Consulting:

Chalre Associates provides its Executive Search and Recruiting services throughout the emerging countries of the Asia Pacific region with specific focus on Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos. We are proactive and well known in our sectors of focus.  Regional Managers use us to help bridge the gap between local environments and the world-class requirements of multinational corporations.

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+ 632 822 4129     leaders@chalre.com

Asia CEO Forum

Asia CEO Forum presented by PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is the largest regular business event in Philippines and considered one of the most important in the Southeast Asia region. The forum serves as a hub for the spreading of ideas that help executive managers overseeing enterprises across the Asia Pacific region.

Attendees are both expatriate and Asian management personnel overseeing multinational and regional organizations. Held in Philippines, presenters are leaders in their industries and engaged in momentous pursuits of significance to the entire region.

Asia CEO Forum is operated as a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activity of Chalre Associates, one of Southeast Asia's most prominent senior management executive search firms, to promote Philippines as a premier business destination in the Asia region.

Click Here to go to Asia CEO Forum now!

Asia CEO Awards

Asia CEO Awards presented by Aseana City represents the grandest alliance of local and international business people ever created to promote Philippines on the world stage. As one of the largest events of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, it is considered a must-attend occasion for business leaders active in Southeast Asia.

The star-studded Board of Judges of Asia CEO Awards give away 10 awards to many of the most accomplished leadership teams and individuals currently operating in Philippines and the region. The awards recognize extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievement for their organizations and contributions to others.

As one of the fastest growing nations on the planet, the world's business leaders have their eyes on Philippines like never before. The annual gala was established as a natural outgrowth of Asia CEO Forum, the largest regular networking event for the business community in Philippines.

Click Here to go to Asia CEO Awards now!

SPECIAL DOWNLOADS:

Media organizations throughout the world call upon the Principals of Chalre Associates for thought leadership. Below are some examples of published material written by our consultants or international journalists who refer to them. For a complete list of published work, Click Here.

Getting Ready For The Deluge: Outsourcing in Philippines

by Chalre Associates senior staff

Download [PDF file, 62KB]

The Economist Intelligence Unit of the Economist magazine asked Chalre Associates' Chairman, Richard Mills, to write a chapter about the Philippine outsourcing sector in its annual Business Guide Book. The material provides a Executive Briefing on the progress and major issues facing this industry that is certainly one of most significant growth stories in the world. more

Asia Pacific Mining Conference 2007 - Report

by Chalre Associates senior staff

Download [PDF file, 28KB]

The 7th Asia Pacific Mining Conference put on by the Asean Federation of Mining Associations was perhaps the largest such event in the region. Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates gave this report on what was said by the prominent mining people who presented. more

The State of BPO in Philippines: Dan Reyes Speaks

by Chalre Associates senior staff

Download [PDF file, 31KB]

Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates, interviewed Dan Reyes of Sitel for ComputerWorld (US) recently to get his views on the state of the BPO industry in Philippines. Dan presented US readers with compelling information to support his view that Philippines is currently seen as the "Number 1" option by global companies sending BPO work to offshore destinations.

Dan Reyes is easily one of most experienced Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) managers in the Asia Pacific region and the world. He is head of the extremely successful Philippine operations of Sitel, the world's largest call center organization. Among other things, he is a founder and former president of the Business Processing Association of the Philippines.    more