Partnership in International Living
Many multinational corporations, non-governmental organizations, foreign-service agencies and educational institutions are increasingly sending their employees to work and live internationally (Miser & Sjodin-Bunse, 2012). Additionally, many employees who choose this path do so with their spouses and partners. Of the thousands of expatriates employed at the 118 international organizations surveyed in the most recent Brookfield Relocation Trends 2011 Survey Report, 68%, or just over two-thirds, were married (Brookfield, 2011).
The degree to which an expatriate couple experiences a sense of well-being on assignment in a foreign country impacts not only each person in the family, but also their friends and colleagues. International organizations have a lot at stake in making sure that their expatriate employees are effective and satisfied and that the company’s return on investment is substantial (Corporate Leadership Council, 2002). The importance of a successful adjustment for an expatriate’s accompanying spouse and their children cannot be ignored: Spousal and family dissatisfaction is a significant factor in a couple’s early return from an international assignment (Brookfield, 2011).
Accepting an international assignment together with one’s spouse is not for the faint of heart. To choose an international assignment takes courage and a willingness to risk. Expatriate couples, though, usually consider such a bold choice to be a wonderful adventure that holds the promise of new and exotic experiences. For many couples, it comes as a great surprise when they find out that their adjustment to international living is a lot more difficult than they ever expected. Couples discover very quickly that, to be successful in moving one’s family to a new country, one key ingredient must be present: Partnership.
Living in a country where the customs and norms are at first unfamiliar provides an expatriate couple with great learning opportunities not only to achieve a cross-cultural understanding of their host country, but also to develop a deeper appreciation for their humanity, no matter what the cultural differences are. Not only can living abroad foster the couple’s increased understanding and acceptance of the people in their new culture, but it also offers them an unparalleled opportunity for personal growth and for building the inner resources necessary to confront the challenges that are unique to being expatriates.
Miser & Miser (2009) have made the argument that couples could greatly benefit by having access to couples coaching, if requested, before, during and after an international assignment. By offering couples coaching to expatriate couples, multinational companies make a sound investment in the success of international assignments. When couples have the tools they need to have the important conversations that are required to be successful on an international assignment, they will be able to meet each new challenge with resilience and build the life they envision for themselves and their family.
References
Brookfield Global Relocation Services (2011). Global relocation trends: 2011 survey report. Toronto, Canada: Brookfield GRS.
Corporate Leadership Council (2002). Expatriate programs: Staff selection process. Arlington, VA: Corporate Executive Board.
Miser, A. & Miser, M. (2009). Couples coaching for expatriate couples: A sound investment for international businesses. In M.C. Moral & G. Abbott (Eds.), The Routledge Companion to International Business Coaching (pp. 203-217). New York, N.Y.: Routledge.
Miser, A. & Sjodin-Bunse, O. (2012) Adventures in International Living: The Imperative of Partnership. Unpublished paper, presented at the 2012 annual conference of Families in Global Transition, Washington, D.C.
Posted in Cross-cultural Adjustment, Partnership Marriage
