Global citizens make great employees – June 28, 2010

Last week, the provincial government of New Brunswick made national news when employee live-streaming of the World Cup crippled its network performance. I don’t condone our civil servants spending hours watching soccer on company time. I think we’d all like to imagine our provincial workers as passionately engaged in the business of making New Brunswick more successful.

But this incident raised an interesting discussion within HR and management circles. Is there anything positive that can be taken away from these workers’ interest in the World Cup? Some would say that it depends on their roles. They make the case for staff working on settlement programs or perhaps international trade as benefiting from exposure to such a global event.

It begs the question: how do we value global citizenship in our workforce? Would you rather have an employee who is interested in international events such as the World Cup, than one who wasn’t aware of its significance? And finally, is there a correlation between global awareness and the ability to work effectively with a diverse population?

There’s something to be said for the pleasure of having your culture recognized and prioritized by another person. That’s one of the reasons for the Cultural Expressions Festival, Extravaganza 2010 held this past weekend. Members of Fredericton’s ethno-cultural communities showcased their food, music, dance, art and other aspects of their culture to residents and visitors, helping to build understanding between neighbors and make our city a better place.

This understanding and connection helps ensure that we retain the new population that the government is working so hard to attract. As an example, I’ve been told by members of the New Brunswick African Association that access to soccer programs for their youth helps speed and solidify new immigrants’ connections to our community. Soccer evolves from an activity they knew and loved in their country of origin, to a comfortable way to make friends in their new home.

Sales professionals know this - people buy from people. Finding common ground and relating personally to your customer helps secure the sale. Does this mean a sales person who watches the World Cup will close more deals? Maybe. But if I’m hiring a sales person I’ll certainly look for their interest in people and their willingness to listen and learn. And if two candidates were equal, I’d hire the one who’s internationally savvy.

The Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission released findings last week that show New Brunswick successfully retained 83% of our university graduates, a ten point increase on previous results. Some may mourn the 17% lost to other provinces and countries, but I suggest that there is value to those graduates gaining a greater world view, in the hopes that they will return to NB to share their experiences with those who haven’t left our borders.

As Fredericton and all of New Brunswick strives to become more and more diverse, welcoming newcomers from all corners of the world, I expect that the ability to appreciate and understand different cultures and experiences will become a critical competency for many of our employers. Similarly, as we grow our export markets and conduct commerce with new international partners, those who can build relationships effectively will have the advantage. So if, on their lunch break, an employee seeks out the progress of the World Cup, I say game on!

To Read the Daily Gleaner Article