Feeling at home in Europe

I was born in Italy and lived there for 12 years.  I still speak my Italian but more like a 12 year old adolescent who wants attention. My first language is French, which I speak fluently. Next week I will be in Germany delivering training and certifying a team of trainers on my customized program. Somehow, I feel at home in Europe; its a home I left many years ago that I’ve returned to visit.

It is so gratifying to be in a place in my professional life where I can travel to Europe and train.  The cultural differences are manageable and there is a familiarity that is sensible and inviting. I train in English and after the teams are certified on my program, they usually translate it for their countries.

The entire week, it’s about all the countries coming together to learn the material. And yet each country holds the program in a unique and necessary way. The Germans provide the analysis and detail while the Spaniards are proud and have a sense of humor. The French are classy and great skeptics while the Italians are charming and have a easy going sense of timing, the Scandinavians don’t waste any time and when they speak, it’s important. The Brits bring their dry humor and level of excellence while the Italians bring their charm and their messaging. The Israelis are determined and pragmatic and the American choreographs this dance.

As I stir this cultural melting pot, I must maintain a keen sense of awareness and learn how to separate skill deficiencies from cultural deficiencies. So when a participant says, “we could never do that in our country” I must understand their culture or their resistance to the new skill which is hiding.