Varallo D. Vincent - How to Confidently Communicate and Inspire Others in the International Workplace

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Copyright 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved.

Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey.
Published simultaneously in Canada.

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ISBN: 9781119361305 (cloth); ISBN 9781119361329 (ePDF); ISBN 9781119361336 (ePub)

We would like to thank our wives, Ivette, Latha, and Marie-Genet, and our families for their support, patience, and enthusiasm for this project.

Our sincere gratitude goes to our dedicated team who played an instrumental role in guiding this book to publication:

• Christina Schmitz, who helped us organize our thoughts and sharpen our focus
• David Westley Covey, whose astute suggestions helped the manuscript flow
• Carmela O'Flaherty for her support and excellent contributions to the Toolkit
• Maggie Kennedy and Jacquelyn Hayward, whose expertise in manuscript submissions proved invaluable
• The team at Cape Cod Compositors for their proficient copyediting skills
• The team at Wiley for their ongoing support and for patiently guiding this book to publication
• David M. R. Covey, Ken Price, and our colleagues at ThomasLeland for their ongoing support

We also would like to thank our clients worldwide and the many international professionals we have met along the way who have told us their stories and placed their trust and confidence in us.

Finally, we dedicate this book to the international professionals who are on a journey to find their authentic voice across cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We wish you the success you truly deserve.

Liz stood impatiently in front of the large screens outlining the departures and arrivals for the afternoon's travels. Her eyes fixed on departing flights, as the airline had yet to post her gate. She anxiously waited, her bag hanging heavily on her right shoulder, and her suitcase on the floor in front of her. The crowd around her got larger, she could hear a young child behind her crying to her mother for another piece of candy, but her gaze stayed fixed on the bright blue departure screen. After what felt like hours of waiting, the dreaded word DELAYED appeared next to her flight in big, bold, red letters.

Liz mumbled under her breath, Another delaygreat.

She grabbed her suitcase and begrudgingly decided to have a drink to get her through what was now a six-hour layover. Liz was very familiar with the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). She made her way to her favorite lounge and took a seat at a small round table near the bar. She ordered a dirty martini and logged in to the WiFi to check her e-mail. She looked up to get the bartender's attention for a snack menu and noticed a man enter the lounge, seeming frustrated. He let his briefcase fall to the floor as he whipped off his jacket, folded it, and placed it neatly on a barstool. He took a seat at the bar and flipped through the menu. Liz was unable to get the bartender's attention as he made his way to attend to his new customer.

What can I get for you, sir? said the bartender to the man.

I would like an am-buh-gah medium rare with cheese and a glass of waw-ta with gas please, said the man slowly in a strong French accent.

The bartender looked at the man and asked, Can you say that again, buddy?

The man repeated his order, but the bartender still looked perplexed as he tried to understand what exactly he needed to write down on his order pad. The man began getting more and more frustrated as he continually repeated himself. At this point he must have ordered eight or nine hamburgers and mineral waters! Liz overheard their struggle and offered her help.

I think he would like a cheeseburger and a glass of water. If you have sparkling water that would be great, she said from her table and added, and can I get the snack menu, please?

Both of them looked in her direction. The look of confusion eased from the bartender's face as he breathed a sigh of relief and put the order in. The man looked over at Liz, still visibly frustrated, but offered up a friendly Thanks.

You're very welcome, Liz said. I have the same problem where I live.

Oh, really? Where are you from?

I am originally from New Jersey, but I was relocated to Brazil four months ago for work. I probably wouldn't have interrupted you when you were ordering, but when I'm in Brazil speaking English some people can't seem to understand my New Jersey accent. When I heard you ordering, it really hit home for me. I know how it feels.

The man's mouth widened into a smile. That's pretty funny, because you speak great English, and it's your native language but people still can't understand your accent? I don't believe

Even when I'm traveling throughout the United States people always say, You must be from New Joisey, Liz interrupted as she exaggerated her words to create the classic New Jersey accent. Where are you from? she asked the man.

I am from France but I work for a Swedish manufacturing company in the UK.

Liz smiled. I'm Liz, by the way, she said as she stuck her hand straight out for him to shake.

I'm Pierre, he said as he stretched across an empty seat to meet her hand.

So what brings you to the United States? Liz questioned.

I was doing a site visit for my company in Houston, and then I had a quick meeting in LA. Now I'm going back to headquarters in Stockholm. You know, with my heavy French accent people don't understand me easily. In business it's not too bad, but when I try to order things, like today, sometimes it is pretty difficult. It seems like a lot of people find me hard to understand.