Thinking Travel

The SIETAR-USA conference is going on right now and, oh, do I wish I were there. And thanks to their live-bloggers, I sort of can be.

The focus of this year’s conference is “Culture and Conflict: Courageous Conversations for Caring Communities.”

Beth Yoder’s post about Dr. Christopher Deal’s session on “Bridging the Academic/Business Divide” caught my eye because it hits close to home. Actually, it doesn’t hit close to home, it’s plowing down my front door and slamming square into my forehead. I won’t go into details, but I will say that I’m currently in a professional situation where I feel like I’ve landed in a very different culture.

Initially, I didn’t characterize this experience in intercultural terms. But then, a few days ago, I emailed advice to someone who is helping a friend through a trying cultural transition. As I typed, it dawned on me that I could apply the advice I was giving to my own situation. I stopped typing and mentally re-framed the situation as one of going abroad. And then it suddenly all made sense.

Beth notes several causes for the cultural divide between the academic and business worlds:

In addition to a decades long history, arrogance, resources and a self-perpetuating cycle of degradation, the cultural differences include: language, principles, goals, ethics, behavioral philosophy, values, motives, and time orientation, to name a few.

Just as I became aware of myself as a U.S. American when I lived in Germany, and an Oregonian when I moved to the Midwest, and then the South, in my current experience I’m becoming extremely aware of myself as a professional…my language, principals, goals, motives, time orientation – exactly what Beth mentioned in her blog.

I’d love to connect with others who are bridging the academic/business divide! Feel free to leave a comment or email me: cate (at) thinkingtravel.com