Inside the Global Professional’s Mind

Psychological insights for a multicultural world.

Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

Key points

• Being a global professional requires a different mindset.
• It is essential to revisit previously established identities and develop new ones when necessary.
• Automatic cognitive processes and pre-existing assumptions may pose a risk.

Do you consistently interact with people from different cultures and countries in your work?

You can be considered a global professional if you:

• Work in a foreign country as an expatriate or high-skilled immigrant.
• Work for a multinational organization in your home country.
• Are employed by or collaborate with international organizations as a remote worker.
• Engage in global business as an entrepreneur, contractor or freelancer.
• Work in culturally diverse context in your own unique way.

In today’s interconnected world, it’s relatively easy to be categorized as a global professional. However, this role comes with its own set of challenges.

Let’s take a closer look at three primary psychological processes that shape the experience of global professionals working in culturally diverse contexts.

1. Identities: Redefining Yourself in a Global Context

Identity formation is the process of defining who we are and developing a sense of “self” based on personal experiences, social roles, and cultural context (McCall & Simmons, 1978; Turner et al., 1987). While we may hold different identities in various contexts (e.g., home vs. work), our identities are primarily shaped by our social environment and culture. Identities are fluid and dynamic—we continually revise existing ones and adopt new ones throughout life (e.g., becoming a parent or a manager/leader).

Before working in a global context, we may experience varying degrees of belonging to our assigned culture. However, we may also hold other identities relevant to our work, such as those based on occupation, organization, or team. Becoming a global professional can challenge established identities in several ways, including:

• Questioning existing identities in new contexts (e.g., observing different worldviews or work approaches in other cultures).
• Developing new identities, such as becoming an expatriate, immigrant, virtual worker or global citizen.

2. Perceptions: Understanding How You See Yourself, Others, and the World

Cognitive processes shape how we view ourselves (e.g., during identity formation) and others (e.g., as we deepen our understanding of different people and cultures). Being a global professional is challenging due to the perceptions we hold about ourselves and others.

Assumptions and stereotypes about one’s own and other cultures heavily influence expectations. Research consistently shows that positive self-expectations lead to better outcomes in various domains, such as medicine, sports, and academic performance (Robson, 2022). Similarly, positive perceptions and expectations can help professionals thrive in culturally diverse contexts. Conversely, negative attitudes toward cultural diversity or specific cultures can adversely impact expectations and relationships with colleagues, clients, or collaborators. Thus, key questions to explore and challenge perceptions include:

• What do I think about my own culture in comparison to others?
• What do I assume others think about my culture?
• What do I think about and expect from people of different cultural backgrounds?
• Which stereotypes might be incorrect or need challenging?
• How can I develop awareness of false assumptions?

3. Relationships: Building Healthy Relationships With People From Different Cultures

Work in any context requires strong relationship-building and management skills. Communication and collaboration in culturally diverse settings can be particularly challenging, especially when language barriers are involved. Once you have clarity about your identities and the perceptions influencing your view of others, it becomes easier to develop and maintain healthy relationships.

Cultural differences and language barriers can be difficult to navigate, but global professionals can benefit from:

• Cultivating skills such as cultural agility (Caliguiri, 2021).
• Learning about different approaches to relationships across various cultures.
• Working on communication skills and identifying areas for improvement.

Conclusion

Being a global professional requires active, conscious effort to understand underlying psychological mechanisms, starting with self-reflection. Exploring identity- and perception-based factors that influence relationships is key to thriving in culturally diverse work environments and leveraging their richness.

By acknowledging the psychological processes that shape our global experiences, we can transform challenges into opportunities and thrive in today’s multicultural world.