Expat Coaching & Cultural Intelligence: Thriving Across Borders

Moving abroad is more than just a career move — it is a cultural transformation. Many expats arrive in new countries with strong professional expertise, yet find themselves struggling with invisible barriers: communication styles, workplace expectations, and cultural misunderstandings.

At Globus Coaching, we specialize in expat coaching and cultural intelligence (CQ) development, helping professionals, leaders, and global teams adapt, build trust, and succeed across borders.

Why Expat Professionals Struggle Abroad

1. Communication Differences

   • Americans often value direct and clear messages.

   • Arabs may prefer indirect communication, where harmony and relationships matter more than blunt clarity.

   • Europeans, depending on their country, may fall somewhere in between.

Without cultural intelligence, these differences can lead to misunderstandings, frustration, or even stalled projects.

2. Workplace Expectations

   • In the U.S., quick decision-making is often seen as leadership.

   • In the Middle East, decisions may take longer due to collective consensus and respect for hierarchy.

   • In Asia, harmony and saving face are often more important than speaking up in meetings.

     
     

3. Identity and AdaptationExpat leaders often ask:

   • “Am I too direct for this culture?”

   • “How can I lead without losing my authenticity?”

   • “Why do my colleagues agree in meetings but do nothing afterwards?”

How Expat Coaching Helps

Through one-on-one coaching, we work with expats and international leaders to:

• Build Cultural Intelligence (CQ) to navigate differences between Arab, American, European, and Asian work cultures.

• Strengthen Emotional Intelligence (EQ) to manage stress, adapt faster, and build trust across cultures.

• Develop global leadership strategies that balance authenticity with local adaptation.

Our approach is not theory — it is built on 20 years of senior leadership experience in international organizations combined with professional coaching certifications (ICF, EQ-i 2.0, CQ).

Real Case Example

One of our clients, a European executive, moved to Dubai and continued to lead with his usual direct and task-focused style. While his clarity worked perfectly in London, in the UAE it was seen as confrontational. Meetings ended with polite agreement, but no follow-through.

Through expat coaching sessions, he learned to:

• Build stronger personal relationships before pushing tasks.

• Recognize indirect “yes” vs polite “yes.”

• Adapt his style without losing authority.

Within weeks, his team’s collaboration and trust improved — and so did results.

Is Expat Coaching Right for You?

If you are:

• An expat professional adapting to a new country,

• A leader managing multicultural teams,

• Or an executive preparing for an international assignment,

then expat coaching and cultural intelligence training can help you turn uncertainty into confidence and achieve success across cultures.

👉 At Globus Coaching, we empower expats, executives, and global teams to lead with confidence across cultures.