By Mariann Dienes — Applied Linguistics Expert and Neurolanguage Coach

At the end of a long week of meetings, sessions, team dinners, team lunches, and events, I was about 30 seconds into a presentation, when I saw one of my colleagues dozing off at a table in the front row. The people at the rest of the tables were not doing much better. We had been listening to the same topics in disguise for a week. Had I not been the moderator, I would have fallen asleep, too. 

People had flown in from around the world and were jet-lagged. They were translating a lot of information in their heads. Some conference attendees likely needed some exercise to be able to refocus. Ninety-minute sessions without a break, plus weeks packed with lectures, mean people zone out even if they do not fall asleep. The message you want to deliver gets completely lost. 

People typically need help to digest large amounts of information. They need breaks so they can absorb what they have heard, react to it, and process it in ways that allow them to share and make a difference.

While conference presentations and jet lag are common in global business, I’ve found that regional differences in adapting to working and living in new communities also have their challenges (even with a short-haul rather than a long-haul flight). No matter what you do or how many presentations you make, some people do not seem to hear. They can’t hear. 

One of the biggest hurdles I’ve found as an Eastern European is understanding other regional ways of thinking and feeling understood. Perhaps I need a different PowerPoint? I speak enough languages. 

Take business development, for example. Often, North America and Western Europe lead the way in cutting-edge global development for small businesses. It is easy to say (in English), “Well, everything is online these days. You can travel anywhere. You can work from anywhere, and that’s a bonus for all of us.”

While that is true, sometimes my brain isn’t able to keep up, even without jet lag. I slip in and out of France, New York, or Istanbul, all from the same swivel desk chair. Even more frequently these days, I look at the Zoom faces from across the world and I want to gently inquire (or sometimes more directly and boldly), “Do you understand that although I am fluent in English, my thoughts need a moment? I’m not just translating a language but also a thought pattern.”

You see, I want to take my seat at the table of emerging small global businesses, but I am overcoming more than you can see on a screen. Many people from my region are overcoming post-communist thinking when it comes to starting a business. I certainly am, and sometimes I don’t know how to tell others what I know or don’t know about current trends. 

I believe I’ve come a long way in solving this problem by joining Families in Global Transition’s Business Membership. In our WhatsApp group and our Business Quarterly meetings, we can ask anything. No question is too small. Too silly. Too technical. The Zoom Quarterlies are not recorded so we feel free to ask anything.

In addition, I’ve met several expats living in Bulgaria and Romania. I’m from Hungary. We met through the “Shut Up and Work” sessions and continued our conversations in the “Coffee and Connect” sessions. We are finding our voice. Through the FIGT network, we can meet in an informal atmosphere, taking the next steps in possibly forming a new affiliate—FIGT Eastern Europe! If you are living in our region, we’d love to welcome you to our group. Nothing is yet set in stone, but we’re exploring ideas about how we can gather and gain confidence now that we have a voice. It’s a lot to take in.

Author Bio

Mariann Dienes is an intercultural consultant and applied linguist with a background in both business and Applied Linguistics. Having worked for multinational organizations for more than 10 years, Mariann brings a wealth of experience to intercultural consulting. Her qualifications in Applied Linguistics, Neurolanguage Coaching, and English Teaching provide an excellent skill set that facilitates intercultural understanding at its best. Her primary aims are to help clients achieve an increased awareness of cultural dimensions and foster understanding and cooperation in organizations.