By Steven B. McKinney

McKinney Consulting Inc.

Recently, PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted a survey among 270 international organizations employing 65,000 expatriates; of the companies surveyed, 80% reported major or increasing difficulties in recruiting executives to go overseas. According to the report (PWC International Assignments European Policy and Practice: Key Trends 2000), getting people to accept international assignments remains a challenge. Reasons for refusal range from family issues, to the lack of support for managing dual careers and the reality of longer-term career management. The transition to an expatriate style life can be stressful.

Have you or any of your friends had any major changes in your life during the past year? Then, you know the hurdles of dealing with a transition. Recent research predicts that each of us will experience 10 to 20 significant life-events.

Small events are easy to cope with while major ones may cause us to choke. In addition, major events cause us to reflect on our core beliefs. In either case, a transition can provide an opportunity to make positive changes in our lives. I have always looked at a new job, project, or assignment as an opportunity to try a different approach or perfect an idea. I look upon a transition as a new birth or life.

While the creation of a new human life takes nine months before delivery occurs, a typical life transition takes six to twelve months to work its way through the process. Noted psychologist Mr. D. Williams details the events of the transition cycle in the chart below.

The transition cycle - a template for human responses to change (Williams, 99)

The phases of transition are fairly predictable. However, to be educated on what to expect does not minimize the impact that it has on our lives, no more than being educated on pregnancy lessens the weight of carrying a baby to full term—or the associated pain of delivery for the mother.

Stress and anxiety can develop into a transition crisis if not kept in check. So, rule number one is to take care of yourself. It is common knowledge from ancient oriental medicine to modern western practices that a healthy diet and moderate exercise is essential for a quality life.

Emotional support is also important. A group of understanding friends is an invaluable support mechanism. The committee that I co-chair for the American Chamber of Commerce-Korea is the "Living in Korea"/Membership Committee; its aim is to help members and their families adjust to expatriate life in Korea. We have wonderful guest speakers ranging from the Spouse Networking Assistance Program of the State Department (Washington D. C.) to Mr. David Pollack, author of the book on Third Culture Kids. This organization and others, like FOCUS, are here to make your transition easier.

Next, deal with the problems. Don’t make major decisions without writing them down and discussing them with a family member or close friend. Work through the issues you have identified step by step and manage the change.

Also, remember that it is okay to ask for help—now is the time, if ever, to ask. I told my son, who was recently going through a difficult situation, that now is the time, if ever, to involve me in the problem-solving process. My father turns 70 years old this year, and I will surely miss his wise counsel if he passes through the veil of life before I do.

Steve McKinney has worked and traveled in over 25 countries and lived in Korea a combined 10 years. He is the founder and CEO of McKinney Consulting, an Executive Search and Management Consultancy firm. Steve can be reached at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it