ABSTRACT
An expatriate possessed of cultural intelligence is more likely to be equipped to adapt to and work in a multicultural environment. The role of the global manager is to minimise the culture shock so that expatriates can move swiftly on to the adjustment and mastery stage. Cross-cultural adjustment is a long-term and arduous process, and expatriates need cultural intelligence and know-how skills to negotiate it successfully. With cultural knowledge and inherent understanding, expatriates become more self- and culturally aware. Most expatriates realize that the journey of expatriation involves encountering multidimensional challenges that require different types of competency. Without exception, expatriates are expected to demonstrate cultural competency, but developing this competency is not easy; it requires self-initiated expatriates (SIE) to know themselves as well as others. SIEs also need to understand that for certain competencies, some facets are more important than others.
