Expatriate assessment
"He's our man, I'm sure. He's willing to relocate, he shows a keen interest in other cultures, he speaks the local language, he's got common sense, he has a keen intellectual curiosity, he's more than happy with the extra compensation and on top of that, he's taken a thorough pre-assignment training programme."
I know many leaders and managers who'd bet on this horse. I would not. There is more to the complex issue of expatriate assessment. What if his ability to adjust across (sub)cultures does not live up to expectations? What if the spouse or the children ... ?
So, what will determine the success or failure of an international assignment? What are some of the characteristics of a successful expatriate? Social intelligence, emotional regulation, self-reliance, confidence, the ability to think critically, the ability to delay response, the ability to know when not to express critical judgements, the ability to cross cultures (including company cultures, subcultures, sector cultures) etc etc.
The most advanced pre-assignment training, the perfect country-briefing, the near-native language ability, the relocation compensation of all things ... won't guarantee the success of an assignment.
There is more to expatriate assessment. If you prefer to play it safe, feel free to call us or send us an e-mail.