More than a Plane Ticket: Leading a Project Overseas

More than a Plane Ticket

Leading a Project Overseas

Edan Puritt

Leading a Project Overseas

Know your ABCs

A. Prepare

B. Listen

C. Do/Participate

A) What to do before each trip: PREPARE

1. Research the geography, culture and history of the destination.

What to do before each trip: PREPARE

2. Research the geography, culture and history of Canada.

What to do before each trip: PREPARE

3. Learn to say and pronounce key terms and greetings.

B) What to do during your trip: LISTEN

1. There are few cultures as rude as we are.

Listen carefully for clues. Look for pronouns.

Spoiler Alert: Success will elude you until you are part of we and not part of they.

What to do during your trip: LISTEN

2. There are few cultures as young and immature as ours.

Understand their decision making hierarchy and stay within it.

What to do during your trip: LISTEN

3. No culture is perfect for everyone.

Listen to everyone but be very careful not to judge.

C) What to also do during your trip: DOING

1. Engage your hosts as an ambassador for the 35 million Canadians

who will be judged by everything you say and do.

What to also do during your trip: DOING

2. You will remember everything you do, and only regret what you

don’t.

If the locals do it, or eat it, try it.

What to also do during your trip: DOING

3. Under promise, over deliver.

ALWAYS provide multiple early drafts of the Executive Summary.

Leading a Project Overseas

Walk aways? Remember your ABCs:A. Prepare

B. Listen

C. Do/Participate

• Down the road? Landing plane? After? LinkedIn?