Managers with cross-cultural expertise are in high demand these days. Fortunately, you don't need to have extensive international experience or speak multiple languages to acquire a global outlook. Here are three ways to broaden your perspective:
Observe. Cultivate a curiosity about how places operate. Ask foreign colleagues lots of questions, and don't assume you know the answers.
Study. Formal education—in world history, economics, politics, and international business—helps you broaden your perspective. But informal study is important, too: Read international literature, take in foreign films, and so on.
Open your mind. Understand the importance of bringing out the best in people, regardless of where they hail from or what languages they speak. Respect and explore other cultures, welcome new experiences, and seize opportunities to work with people of other nationalities.
Source: Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Join the Global Elite" by Gregory C. Unruh and Ángel Cabrera.