• Coping with a lack of a support network
• Making friends
• Understanding cultural differences
• Finding a new identity for themselves abroad
• Creating/pursuing their own vision for the international assignment
  (professional or personal)

• To give the expatriate employee someone to speak with that is supportive and
   external to the company

• For an individual to check that the assignment is on track personally and professionally   or to create an assignment plan and goals

• To identify approaches or strategies that will improve cross-cultural communication
  and get better results

• To provide a local national/country expert perspective

Why Expatriate Coaching?

Individuals often turn to coaching as a tool to trigger change or to see them through
a significant professional or life juncture - and relocations are certainly one of life's
big changes.

A relocation presents opportunities for a fresh start, a shift in priorities, a change in direction or perspective.

It can also present challenges - whether it's the pressure of a new professional role, figuring out the local culture, establishing a social network, managing a family overseas or setting up a new life as the accompanying partner of an international assignee.

Coaching makes sure that you set aside the time to tackle these challenges head on.
A scheduled appointment makes it more likely that you will spend an hour reflecting on what's happening or identifying where you could modify your approach to better suit the local culture. It can help you to come up with an action plan or a vision for how you want to spend your time abroad.

Coaching also sees individuals through the times when the post-arrival blues set in - when the novelty of the move wears off, a partner is preoccupied with their new role or home seems far away. A coach offers the undivided attention and enthusiastic support that is often lacking when in a strange place. Embarking on this path is a positive and practical step in taking control of the relocation experience.

From a corporate perspective, making this option available to international assignees and/or their spouse, is a discerning move that not only demonstrates commitment to the well-being of the whole family, but can also guard against expensive failed international assignments.