Intercultural Competence – What Was That Again?

Intercultural Competence – What Was That Again? A slightly different view of life and work in an international context By Uwe Hauser, with a foreword by Ferdinando Sorrentino (CEO of SEG Automotive GmbH) **What you can expect** This is not another theoretical textbook on intercultural competence. It is the honest, personal, and often humorous firsthand account of an engineer who spent nearly twenty years of his professional life abroad – in Japan, China, Vietnam – and has worked internationally with colleagues from India, Europe, Australia, and America. **What it is about** What does it really mean to work with people from completely different cultures? Why do so many intercultural trainings fail in day-to-day reality? And how do you avoid the famous "cultural pitfalls" even after decades of international experience? The author recounts his experiences with a twinkle in his eye, but also with deep respect: From the challenges of global teams and the role of expats to the absurd moments of everyday life – for instance, when a Japanese employee accidentally reminds her German colleagues of an "erection" instead of an "election" (referring to the German federal election). **Who this book is for** - Professionals working in international environments - Managers of global teams - Anyone preparing for an assignment abroad - Readers who want to understand why cultural competence has more to do with humility and laughter than with models and checklists **What sets this book apart** No dusty theories, no universal magic formulas. Instead: authentic stories, self-critical reflections, and the surprising realization that a smile often achieves more than any intercultural training. The author deliberately avoids the overused term "intercultural competence" – and in doing so, explains it better than any textbook. "A book that speaks not only to the mind, but above all to the heart." – From the foreword by Ferdinando Sorrentino