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Over my years in the recruitment world, especially in the energy sector, I’ve learned one thing that stands out: it’s not just about technical skills anymore. In our globalized industry, the ability to work effectively across different cultures can really make a difference in whether a project thrives or hits roadblocks. Let me share a quick story that highlights this point.

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I recently worked on a major offshore project in West Africa where I had the challenge of pulling together a team of engineers from four different continents. It felt like solving a puzzle with pieces that didn’t quite fit at first, but the experience taught me a lot about the magic of cross-cultural collaboration.

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One of the biggest lessons? Cultural intelligence is key. It’s not just about knowing that there are differences; it’s about adjusting how you communicate and work with others. When I was looking for candidates for this project, I focused on finding people who were flexible and open-minded. We had an American engineer on the team who had spent a few years working in Asia. His ability to shift his communication style really helped smooth things over and made it easier for everyone to connect.

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Speaking of communication, even when everyone is speaking English, misunderstandings can pop up. The teams that work best for us have clear communication practices in place. For this project, we set up regular check-ins where team members could share their thoughts, clarify expectations, and make sure everyone was on the same page. It helped a lot!

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And let’s talk about leadership. The style of leadership that works well in one culture might not resonate in another. We had a project lead from Brazil who had experience working in both Europe and Africa, and he really excelled at adapting his approach to keep everyone motivated.

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One thing I can’t stress enough is the importance of valuing local expertise. The best global teams know how to tap into the knowledge that local professionals bring to the table. I’ve seen projects stumble when expats don’t fully integrate with local teams. For our West African project, pairing experienced expats with local engineers not only helped in knowledge sharing but also made a big difference in bridging cultural divides.
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Building effective cross-cultural teams takes time and effort. The most successful placements we’ve made are the ones where companies invest in team-building activities and let relationships develop naturally. It’s not always a quick fix, but the rewards are definitely worth it.

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For those professionals looking to shine in global projects, my advice is simple: work on your cultural intelligence. It’s a skill that will benefit you in countless ways throughout your career. And for companies? Don’t underestimate the power of soft skills when building international teams. Technical skills are critical, but navigating cultural differences often makes the biggest impact on a project’s success.

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In this interconnected world of ours, having cross-cultural competence isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s essential. From what I’ve seen, this will only become more important as time goes on. The energy sector is global, and those who can effectively work across cultures will lead the way into the future.

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