Go Overseas to Work

Pic source: here

Hi Bro Sis! Long time no post. How's life? I hope you are doing well. Mine? I am pretty good, but currently having such a kinda mixed feeling: excited, blessed, anxious, and nervous are all at once.

Next month is going to be challenging because I am going to wander to another place that is a bit far and quite different than before. Oh how I love Jogja and Bandung so much, so I hope this another-place will be also another 'home' for me as well.

I keep wondering. Can I adapt to a new work environment with so many diversities? Can I keep up with those great colleagues? Can I voice what's on my mind easily to them?

Despite those thoughts, I asked my mentor Russel how to face it and he gave me some tips. Here they are.

1. Be confident. They hired you because they value you. Every new beginning can have challenges, but you'll be able to succeed.
2. Remember that many of the others are also not native English speakers. Some are but probably most are not. You're in the sane boat.
3. If you are going to make a formal presentation, be sure to rehearse it in advance, in front of a friend or coworker, or at least in front of a mirror.
4. Even if it's not a formal presentation, but you are planning ahead to put your ideas forward, practice saying them out loud. Rehearse.
5. If you are in a meeting or discussion and want to add something without previous rehearsal, begin your comments with some bridge phrase like: "I want to build on that idea by suggesting..." or "We could make that even better by..." or more negatively: "Here's another way to look at it..." or "It might be more effective to..."

Thank you Russel for the ideas.
Wish me luck and I hope this article will be helpful for you, too.