Multinational companies invest heavily in cultural training for expats, but recent research shows that knowing local customs plays a minor role in their successful adjustment. A comprehensive meta-analysis involving over half a million individuals revealed that the biggest challenges for expats stem from stressors like discrimination and navigating unfamiliar systems, rather than cultural differences themselves. Social support is critical, especially the backing of a direct supervisor. Supervisors provide key benefits: fostering a sense of belonging, clarifying roles, reducing bureaucracy struggles, and promoting inclusion to combat discrimination. For organizations looking to improve global talent outcomes, focusing on manager support is essential—training leaders to actively engage and support expats early on can make all the difference.
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