The keys to a successful expatriation (or return)
After a long period of reflection and sometimes discussions with your loved ones, you have finally made your decision: you are moving abroad!
Moving abroad means leaving, often for an uncertain period of time, sometimes for a long time, but at the end of this new adventure there is also the return, which can be more or less enjoyable, and which needs to be prepared for.
Expatriation is a rollercoaster of emotions: « The first few days of my expatriation in Montreal were a real mix of emotions: a lot of enthusiasm and curiosity, but also a certain apprehension about the unknown. I was well prepared when I left, motivated by this joint project” says Emilie, who worked in human resources and was an expatriate in Canada (Montreal) and London. « ’However, returning to France was more unsettling than I expected. I hadn’t realised how much I had changed during those two years abroad — in the way I thought, worked and even in my personal and professional expectations. »
For Sofia, who specialises in marketing and customer relations, is Peruvian and has lived in Milan, Paris and Washington D.C., « every expatriation has been different depending on the assignment, the culture and hermy personal situation. « In Italy, informal moments over coffee or a meal helped to strengthen cohesion and integration. Thanks to this solidarity, our office has become one of the most cohesive (and united) in Europe, capable of facing difficult times together. »
Sofia says of her experience in the United States:, « ‘What I really appreciated about American professional culture is the very horizontal communication. Even in a position with less responsibility, I could make suggestions directly to the CEO and communicate freely with employees and managers, as well as colleagues in other departments. »’
Moving abroad also means encountering other cultures that can sometimes be confusing or surprising, and finding the right ways to adapt. « What struck me most about multicultural collaboration is how much diversity of perspective can enrich exchanges… while revealing profound differences in ways of working. In Montreal in particular, I was confronted with very different communication styles,: more direct, with a more horizontal hierarchy than in France, which led me to adapt my approach: less control, more active listening and co-construction, », Emilie shares.
Finally, expatriation also means learning to build a new network when you leave, but also when you return. Emilie confirms, « Yes, it seemed difficult, especially during my first expatriation in Montreal. I was leaving a stable professional environment and a well-established social circle. When I arrived, I had to rebuild everything: understand the codes, identify the right networks, dare to step into the unknown. During my second expatriation in London, things were easier: I had more experience, a better understanding of how things worked, and the cultural and geographical proximity made it easier. I also maintained active professional ties with France, which created a reassuring sense of continuity. »
For Sofia, « ‘In France (or in some European countries), it has always been easier to create or rebuild a professional network than a social network. Professional groups and associations allow you to integrate quickly, even if conversations often remain focused on work. The transition to friendship takes longer — sometimes months or even years. « ’
Leaving and returning means experiencing life transitions of infinite richness, initially with an open heart to new encounters and experiences, leaving room for surprise and demonstrating flexibility and adaptability. It means being able to tell yourself that elsewhere may also mean better…, and on your return, it means being filled with everything you have experienced that is different, better, but sometimes also more difficult. In any case, you come back different and grown.
This is where a few individual coaching sessions can be of great help in making this transition smoothly and reaping all the benefits.
Aline HENRY
Executive Coach Trilingue . Cap Dirigeant
+33 (0)6 80 42 91 38 aline.henry@capdirigeant.fr
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Profile Aline HENRY
As a French-German executive coach, I support executives and managers in French, German and English, both individually, in the context of expatriation or repatriation, to help them prepare for these life transitions with peace of mind, and collectively, with their teams, to improve understanding, listening and working together in a multicultural context, turning cultural differences into a real asset for the group. As Associate Director of the executive outplacement and executive coaching firm Cap Dirigeant, I have myself evolved in a highly international context with nearly 20 years of experience in the automotive industry within the Renault Group and the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance.
Cap Dirigeant
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ALINE RECOMMENDATIONS
The PWN (Professional Women Network) Association
PWN has 3,300 members in 25 countries. As a volunteer with the PWN Paris international community, I lead workshops on topics such as multicultural management and keys to developing your network, particularly when returning from an expatriate assignment.
pwnglobal.net
La Boutique Royale (Cour des Senteurs) à Versailles
In Versailles: this is a shop tucked away in a courtyard where I particularly like to go when I need to buy a gift, especially for my friends who live abroad. You are sure to find something you like among the scented candles, Jouy canvas bags, chocolates and flavoured teas.
La Boutique Royale
8 rue de la Chancellerie, Versailles (78)
www.laboutiqueroyale.com
Chez Molly in Versailles
just opposite La Boutique Royale in the Cour des Senteurs, come and enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat brunch on the terrace in fine weather, with fresh produce in a refined setting inspired by Marie Antoinette and Alice in Wonderland.
Chez Molly
8 rue de la Chancellerie, Versailles (78)
chez_m_versailles
