As anyone who has ever relocated for work can attest, an international assignment is an exciting — and potentially very beneficial career move. For global business professionals, there are bound to be a lot of questions about how a relocation will change both their professional and their personal lives. For expats with an accompanying spouse or family, the stakes are even higher — relocation can mean putting a huge burden on a partner and their children.
“Knowing what to expect and understanding the ups-and-downs of adjusting to a new home in a new country is one of the most important ways to spend time before going on your international assignment,” says Charlene Solomon, president of RW³ CultureWizard. “But most people don’t realize how crucial this is. There are so many ways you can prepare yourself before embarking on your adventure,” she says, “and these simple techniques can save a lot of frustration and heartache in the new location.”
A February 2014 article in the Harvard Business Review calls spouse dissatisfaction the most commonly cited reason for failure on assignment. In fact, a March 2015 article in the Wall Street Journal elaborates on the high rate of divorce amongst married expats. Moving kids between countries can also be rife with issues — young children can quickly adapt to new languages and cultures, but teenagers may resent missing out on crucial experiences in their home countries.
Knowing this, it is not surprising that expatriates with accompanying families often find themselves in a conflicting position. How does one take advantage of everything an international assignment can offer while doing what’s right for your family?
“Savvy individuals will spend time learning about “Culture Shock” (or what we call the Expat Adjustment Cycle) and how to minimize its impact,” says Solomon. “For example, finding another expat family in the new country and communicating with them beforehand or exchanging photos of the kids’ new schools can be really helpful.”
By identifying potential family issues before accepting an assignment, business professionals are already taking an important step to ensuring their success abroad.
The author of the aforementioned HBR article states that the most successful assignments they’ve seen have been ones where the accompanying spouse used the experience as a means to facilitate his or her own transition. This can mean taking the time to learn a new skill, or earn an advanced degree since expat spouses often place their own careers on hold. There are companies that can help with this process.
Children come with even more special concerns, such as picking the right school and maintaining their health, safety, and continued development. It’s very beneficial to involve children as much as possible in the process of the move. It’s equally important to make sure they get some closure when leaving their home country. Expatchild.com recommends parents show their children photos of their new home and throw a goodbye party for them and their friends before they leave. Parents may also want to make any transitional time between homes a little fun by splurging on a hotel with an indoor pool, or planning time to go to an amusement park and other kid-friendly attractions in their host country.
Another way expats and their families can ease the transition is to plan a visit to their country before relocation. While “look-see” trips may be expensive (especially if your company isn’t paying for it), it is likely to cut down on the time it takes to adjust and become productive. The Wall Street Journal website, speaks highly of the virtues of taking an exploratory trip to a new location prior to expatriation. However, it’s important to remember that this is not simply a touristic stint, but rather an opportunity to envision what it would be like to live in a new location with your family. Make sure you take enough time (so you’re dabbling in culture and not dealing with jetlag) and focus on familiarizing yourself with daily essentials –finding pharmacies, restaurants, grocery stores, daycares, and other essentials in your neighborhood. If your company is willing to help you, hiring a company that specializes in helping you to “settle in” (called Destination Service Providers) is an invaluable asset.
