Crossing Language and Cultural Barriers: Attitude makes all the difference

Earlier this week I was in Santiago, Chile, working with a client who had brought in his leadership team from all over South America. 

The engagement lasted two days, and it was a great success, even though we conducted the work in Spanish, which was a challenge for me.  Although my conversational Spanish is strong, working on a complex, nuanced topic like ours – where anything can come up at any time – is quite another thing.  I made plenty of language blunders along the way, and there were many points at which I struggled to express myself as well as I can in English or French.  But, what saved me every time was my approach. 

This is going to sound like bragging, but it's not intended as such.  My goal here is simply to share what I took from it as reminders and lessons along the way.  It's interesting because I have moved through many cultures and many countries in my travels, and every time, there is some other reminder, some other lesson.

Specifically, here are the things I would name that helped:

• First, there is the commitment I have to make myself understood, however I can. 
• Second, there is my willingness to make mistakes and look silly in the process.
• Third, my genuine curiosity to learn more about the languages (Spanish and Portuguese), the cultures, and the people.  

I find that as long as point # 1 and 2 are present, I'm already in quite good shape.  But, add in what I call "The Curious George Factor", and the learning goes up substantially.  I'm always asking questions, trying to understand how something is said or pronounced, why something is done a certain way, how "x" or "y" happens in this part of the world, and so on. This gives me context for things, and obviously helps build my vocabulary more quickly.  

Part of it too is feeling comfortable enough in the situation to "go for it".  This can sometimes be a challenge, and can take some work.  For example, although I've made my way through over 60 countries over the years and have learned to be very quick and comfortable in adapting to different settings, I still find that it can require a bit of negotiating with myself to feel at ease in a new place and to remember that really, most people are good people just living their lives, and they aren't out to get me.  Once I get myself to that point, the doors of great experiences start opening up wide.  It's worth it – every time.  

Here's to new experiences.