4 ways to grow yourself global

Back in the days when I started talking to ambitious candidates about their careers on a daily basis, the advice (it was a long time ago) was often centred on how they could make themselves stand out from the rest and be the interviewee that made the cut. Back then, it was about looking outside your team; how to build your knowledge of the business so you could contribute to the success of the business in a broader sense than just your role.

A great example I remember was a client who was the Finance Director of a large parcel delivery company. Anyone he hired, regardless of their role, he sent out for a week “on the vans” because in his view they couldn’t possibly add much value unless they understood the business first and foremost. I loved that and have followed that lead ever since.

Later, the emphasis became more towards learning new systems, expanding knowledge beyond what was required to do the job. Being motivated to learn new technology as it emerged really opened up the opportunities for the candidates that did so – I saw it proven time and time again. It simply gave them more choices.

So, what is the equivalent today?

Of course all the things I’ve mentioned above are still relevant. You still need to have the right skills and attributes for the job that you’re doing. You’ll be very familiar, however, with the term globalisation and there are some great reads on the subject from a business perspective, but what I’m referring to is globalising yourself.

Country boundaries are disappearing fast in many senses, and the expectation that your understanding of what transcends those boundaries is definitely on the increase when companies are hiring.

Going global

The key areas I’d suggest in which to build your global perspective would be:

1. Technology – Looking at the disruptors, the innovators both in your own field and others can really help you to add value to discussions when the opportunity arises. Funnily enough, you still need a good understanding of your business to know what’s most relevant – some things don’t change!

2. Markets – I mean this in every sense. What’s going on in your own economy, which other economies touch and impact on your world, how does economic change influence the performance of your business? For example, if you are in a customer facing sector, it would be understanding the data protection laws in all the relevant jurisdictions that your business operates.

3. Social media – These truly global platforms (with a few exceptions) are a great place to understand the differences that exist across geographies and also show very clearly how every one of your colleagues is actually a global spokesperson for your company. Spending time looking at the content others produce is an excellent window into what is important to them.

4. Your particular field of expertise – Being inquisitive about what other companies do that are similar to yours in some way can be a great eye opener. What do they do well and what not so well? Networking and a bit of research can really open your eyes to how others might do things – both good and bad.

A final thought

This all takes a bit of patience and research as well as a bit of networking. Most of all, it requires the right mindset. Being inquisitive outside of your usual environment can really add to both your contribution to your work performance but also to your view of the world. I believe that life is made richer by looking over the fence and appreciating diversity takes many forms!

If you enjoyed the above blog then you might also find some of my other blogs interesting:

• 2016: The year of the ‘digital diviners’
• Forget B2B or B2C, it’s actually You2Me
• 1 thing you need to know about digital marketing
• You2Me – the sequel
• Big Data – help or hype?
• 3 things you need to know about careers in 2020

Share this blog: