Whether you are working for some sort of a big-time global company, or your company is just looking to expand its views in a constantly growing market, one thing is certain – leading a group of people on a project abroad is not always an easy task to accomplish. The main reason why this can be such a difficult task to accomplish is that it is your duty to help each and every single one of your team members navigate a new culture, deal with different time zones, and understand new business practices. Even if you are more than prepared for the task at hand, your team members’ reactions can be very unpredictable sometimes. With this in mind, here are top three types of people that you will get to work abroad, as well as some tips on how to deal with them!
The Pity Partier
When it comes to traveling the world, it is pretty much safe to say that you will see many different levels of poverty and development. Have you ever had a colleague who would run around different cities bursting into tears every five minutes or so? You see, when people witness hardship for the first time, it can be a very emotional experience for them, and that is totally understandable. That being said, if you ever come across this type of person, take them out on a nice walk and explain that it is very important to carry yourself professionally, especially when traveling for work.
The Diva
Have you ever had a colleague who would always make a scene in the field and make it all about herself? Working with these people can be a very annoying experience, mainly because they always complain about the standards of living in the field, and they always demand better food and accommodations. With that said, working with these people is usually very uncomfortable. So, it is very important to have a serious conversation and explain to your colleague that her unprofessional behavior is making everything so much more complicated for everyone involved.
The Shutterbug
This colleague is so excited to be abroad for work that they just can’t stop snapping photos of pretty much every single tourist attraction that they stumble upon. While it is true that snapping photos of the team can be good for the company’s reputation, snapping photos of every single stray dog is really not that helpful. So, what you need to do is have an open conversation with your colleague about when it is good to take photos and when it might be a disrespectful thing to do.