Outsourcing is difficult to define – Wikipedia needs forty words, the Oxford English Dictionary takes twenty – and the actual experience is no less messy. Nowadays, a myriad of contractors, gig workers and third-party specialists move in and out of frame, are expected to liaise – often internationally – all in the name of diversity of thought. In the boardroom, this can present an overwhelming proposition, but isn’t outsourcing just collaboration?
When a conference presenter looks out on a room of association professionals, he or she is likely to see a multicultural mix of people. In fact, today’s typical meeting or conference is a dramatically different place than it was just 10 or 15 years ago as the U.S. population continues to become more diverse. In addition, as more associations are going global, planners and attendees are experiencing global cultures in new ways.
Going global successfully is part art, part science — and a lot of hard work. In a world without boundaries, companies with international meetings and events must contend with a complex set of requirements. As a result, globalization of meetings has created an enormous need for contacts, knowledge and guidance in the international arena.
While tipping may be a common practice in the United States, the same does not always hold true abroad. In many countries, tipping after a meal is not part of local custom. In some cases it’s even frowned upon. Why don’t some countries expect tipping? Here are some key places where tipping isn’t the norm — and why.
According to a 2017 International Coach Federation (ICF) survey, professional coaching is growing. Thirty-one percent of respondents said they’d participated in a business or life coaching relationship, and 66 percent said they were at least “somewhat” aware of the field.
When it comes to international relocations, expatriates often don’t truly know what to expect until they’re in the thick of it. By then, they’re already behind the learning curve and experiencing cultural transition stress.
