Adjusting behaviours Archives

Japan’s cultural attributes can help address economic and social challenges

by Anna Ridgway | Jan 1, 2017 | Adapting to change, blog, Global dexterity, globalisation, international business

Despite a ‘perfect storm’ of economic, social and geopolitical challenges in a changing world order, Japan is capable of finding solutions by being culturally authentic to itself. When considering Japan’s economic, social an geopolitical challenges, two...

Our bias is your bias because we say so

by Anna Ridgway | Apr 29, 2016 | Adapting to change, blog, Marketing and social media, Social commentary, Unconscious bias

We risk reinforcing bias when we reach for the same old pool of cultural narratives in seeking to raise awareness and support change. The other day a LinkedIn connection who has unconscious bias training in her repertoire posted a trailer for a documentary, The Mask...

Lack of cultural effectiveness may bring your business undone and what you can do about it

by Anna Ridgway | Apr 14, 2016 | Adapting to change, blog, Business goals, Communicating across cultures, Developing trust, Managing across cultures

I had an opportunity to access a top-notch IT service provider for my business. If I hadn’t navigated successfully through some cultural differences, I might have lost it. It’s a common but avoidable occurrence: businesses torpedoing opportunities and...

A cautionary expat tale

by Anna Ridgway | Jan 8, 2016 | Adapting to change, blog, Coaching Case Studies, Communicating across cultures, international business

This is the story of a professional dream gone bad overseas in a country with a known yet poorly understood cultural environment. It has parallels with the stories of countless professionals gifted with expertise, experience and cultural knowledge but lack of cultural...

I’ll take our business relationship with chili sauce, please

by Anna Ridgway | Jan 22, 2015 | Adapting to change, blog, Business goals, Developing trust, international business

I was sitting down for lunch at a new Melbourne café with Samuel*, a CFO acquaintance, and we were considering our menu options. Samuel was hemming and hawing while the waitress hovered. ‘Well, anything – so long as it’s not Asian,’ he finally said. After helping him...