The Challenges of Working Abroad As a Product Manager

What you should know about being and expat

Hi everyone, what’s up?

It’s been over six years since I left Brazil to work in Germany, and since then, I learned more than I could ever have expected. Yet, working abroad isn’t like a walk in the park; it’s certainly a rollercoaster.

This episode is a bit different and more personal. I will share the challenges I faced about working abroad, aiming to give you insights if that’s something you’re considering. Even if you’re not, you will benefit from understanding the challenges of working with multicultural teams. Today's reading time is 5 minutes.

Let’s start by giving you the context of how I was used to work.

Photo by Mulyadi on Unsplash

How I Created Digital Products In Brazil

Every culture has certain stereotypes, which are often true. You may imagine that Brazilians are easygoing, friendly, and relaxed. That’s right, but there’s more than that.

In Brazil, personal relationships are fundamental to any work. I’d have lunch with my team every day, and we’d often hang out after work. If I skipped lunch one day, my team would worry about me and think something was wrong.

Another aspect of Brazil is our commitment to decisions. We like progressing and disengaging with extensive discussions. This means any decision can be reversed when new information becomes available. This helps create digital products, and it has been essential for me in Germany.

A tricky aspect is our communication. We’re indirect and speak between the lines. It’s unlikely you get negative feedback or precise instructions from a Brazilian to execute your job.

Deadlines weren’t part of my daily business. Time perception in Brazil is quite flexible, so we continuously adapted what we’d do in the week based on what was possible. Brazil is unpredictable, so we don’t follow strict timetables or plans.

Moving to Germany was and still is a complete change, with almost everything going upside down.

A Few Shocks I Got In Germany

I remember planning my move to Germany. I prepared a budget to have lunch every day in a cafe. That’s what I did in São Paulo, as we had a meal allowance required by law. I was surprised when I realized that my team barely had lunch together; some even skipped it. I couldn’t imagine how we’d start getting closer to rock as a team. Over time, I learned that in Germany, trust is built based on tasks, not relationships.

Working in Germany requires a lot of meetings and discussions. Unlike Brazil, Germany is strict with deadlines and decisions. Once something is decided, don’t dare to change it because implementation is all in. I challenged that from day one and kept doing it, which still causes some friction, but creating digital products is necessary.

One thing that didn’t hurt me, but I saw many Brazilians getting offended, was the direct feedback. Germans don’t hold back negative feedback and are as direct as possible. On the one hand, that’s easier to understand. On the other hand, not everyone is ready for it.

What still drives me nuts is the obsession with processes. I only need the goal to figure out how to reach the desired outcome. Yet, Germans need the process so they can collaborate. Finding common ground on this matter has been challenging for me.

The complexity grows exponentially with people from other nations. Let’s understand why.

Multicultural Teams

The more nationalities you have in your team, the longer it takes to become productive. Cultural aspects get in the way of effectively collaborating. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of that.

My first recommendation to anyone working with multicultural teams is to learn its implications because, without it, confusion results. Erin Meyer wrote the “Culture Map,” which will help you understand the nuances of cultures. I recommend you read the book or at least watch the summary of it.

Here’s the core part you need to understand:

• Common sense varies worldwide

• How you give and receive feedback is different per nation

• Providing guidance isn’t always the same

• Some people prefer the boss calling the shots, while others dislike it

• Many cultures need to know the theory before applying it in practice

• How you build trust depends on where you come from

Overview

I believe that everyone would have tremendous benefits by working abroad. My career and personal life improved after I exposed myself to new cultures. It’s an invaluable skill to know how to work with multicultural teams effectively and, even more valuable, how to set up such teams.

If you’re considering living abroad, give yourself this chance. But be aware that what worked in your country will probably not work elsewhere. The key is to learn the cultural aspects and grow.

Germany has been inspiring to me. Here’s what happened over the last six years:

• Saw snow for the first time in my life (see the picture, my first one in Munich)

• Worked for a few companies, moving from Product Manager to CEO. Don’t ask me how. I cannot explain that, but let’s say I love challenges.

• Fell in love with writing, going from 0 to 91K+ followers on Medium

• Started my newsletter, Untrapping Product Teams, reaching 15K+ followers

• Got married in 2019 to a Russian lady and have never been happier

• Consulted a few dozen companies worldwide

• Learned a new language (Ja, ich spreche Deutsch sehr gern)

• Met awesome people

• Visited 20+ countries

• Gave 30+ live talks

• Doubted myself 1K+ times that I was not good enough

• Hit the wall 500+ times, tried 501+ times again

Today, I conclude that life is about adventures. Follow your heart, do what you love, and things will turn out funny.

My first picture in Munich

Let’s rock the product world together!

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Have a lovely day,

David