International Assignment Training

Help your employees or family adapt and succeed on an international assignment
Provide them with country-specific insights and information, as well as the
cross-cultural awareness and skills they need.

Based in London, Barton Insights supports primarily expatriates relocating to the United Kingdom, as well as those leaving the UK to work overseas.


What is International Assignment Training?

Example topics:

The intercultural framework
Providing the necessary background to get the most out of the training. What is culture? What do we mean by intercultural communication? What do we need to be aware of or think about?

Country context
An introduction to the history, geography and politics of the destination country.

Cross-cultural insights
An insight into key behaviours, attitudes and values of local nationals, as well as their expectations of your culture. Discussion points relate to practical subjects, such as topics of conversation, establishing friendships and professional relationships, customer service and the use of humour.

Etiquette essentials
A check-list of what constitutes "good manners" in the destination culture and how to make a positive impression.

Business focus
An exploration of business culture and communications style in the destination country. For example, typical attitudes towards hierarchy or change, levels of formality, email / telephone / meeting etiquette, preferred selling / business development styles and how people handle disagreement.

Everyday practicalities
Time for questions relating to practicalities of life in the destination country, such as shopping, safety, transport, leisure or how the medical and school systems work.

Transition issues
A discussion of causes and strategies for managing 'culture shock'. Where relevant, we can touch upon challenges specific to the accompanying expatriate spouse and to raising children overseas. A practical adaptation action plan is developed, which can be followed-up with one-to-one coaching.
about expatriate and cross-cultural coaching

What is the purpose of International Assignment Training?
When companies and families think of a relocation, their most pressing thoughts are (naturally) of finding a home, shipping belongings or saying goodbyes. Less attention is reserved for what happens after the move.

Given the considerable investment involved in moving overseas - for a company or family moving independently - giving a thought to what happens beyond passport control would seem advisable. For example, how will the assignee be prepared to deal with differences in the destination country's business culture? How will they be briefed to notice that differences in communication styles even exist? Moreover, what measures will be taken to ensure that the whole family is happy in the new country? How can we support the spouse or children with the move so that troubles at home don't translate into trouble at work?

Whether a Global Assignment Manager planning the relocation of others, or an executive managing a relocation for yourself or a family, Barton Insights offers bespoke solutions to see individuals succeed both professionally and personally in the new culture.



Call: +44 (0)7786 992864  Email: katherine@bartoninsights.com
© Barton Insights 2010