A report on the 8th FIGT conference, which addresses the challenges families face, whether they are left at home while a spouse is on short-term assignment, or participating in the full roller-coaster of serial assignments.

In today’s digitalised, globalised world, where the words:  ‘cost-effective solutions’ and ‘bottom-line’ are a common language shared across the corporate spectrum.  Finally, issues of families and family support, so long concealed and little discussed within the corporate arena are now enjoying a renaissance.

The focus on maintaining a healthy ‘work/life balance’ is fuelling recognition amongst corporations that revenue is not the dominant factor in achieving the long-term goals of increased productivity and profitability.

The Families in Global Transition Conference (www.figt.org), which focuses entirely on global families and the challenges associated with living and working abroad, has done much to raise companies’ understanding of how to support families abroad. Speakers and attendees alike are bound by the mutual understanding of the need for, and importance of providing on-going support though all stages of the expatriate experience.   The three-day conference offered a variety of seminars and expert panels which catered to the military and corporate and education sector as much as to the international family. 

Alone at home

One of the important issues ‘the impacts of short-term assignment working from the family perspective’ was covered by Marian Weston, who presented her new book ‘Alone at Home’ (published March 2007) at the 8th International Families in Global Transitions Conference held at the end of March 2007 in Houston ‘Alone at Home’, a practical handbook for families who are separated because of work, has many useful suggestions and coping strategies on how to deal with the many issues they might face during the assignment period.  Each chapter examines a particular aspect of this situation gleaned both from Weston’s personal experience and extensive research:  relationships and communication, family responsibilities, finances and budgeting.  The result is a useful, easy-to-read reference for both HR management and families going through ‘the short-term assignment experience’.

Helping the family deal with expatriation

The pre-conference workshops included ‘Assessing pre-departure readiness and on- field performance- new tools for HR expatriates and families' presented jointly by Dr Len Cerny and Dr Carly Dod, and from the family perspective 'The challenges of the work-life balance for today's global family’, jointly presented by Robin Pascoe and Lois Bushong. Pascoe highlighted the unique challenges of work- expat life balance, based on extensive research published in her new book 'Raising Global Nomads: Parenting Abroad in an on-demand world.', whilst Bushong examined the impact of work/life balance challenges on the global family's dynamics.

In the opening presentation, Janet Bennett, Executive Director of the Intercultural Communication Institute, gave a presentation entitled 'Curiosity - the key to intercultural competence' highlighted how the key variable in developing effective intercultural competency is to develop curiosity about cultural differences, rather than view them as obstacle.

Barbara Berthiaume's presentation of 'Impact of Expatriation and the Family System' revealed how individual and family identities had been totally shaped by their expatriate experiences.

A lively interactive session titled 'Expat Spouse 101' presented by Jo Parfitt and Robin Pascoe explored the top ten challenges facing modern day expat spouses. 

One of the final sessions of the conference 'Thriving through Transitions' jointly presented by former TCKs Matt Neigh and Lois Bushong spoke from the heart, presenting effective models in an intuitive and informative context.

Jo Parfitt, who has made a career out of writing and speaking about her experiences as a wife, mother and often reluctant expat, ended the conference with her keynote speech 'Doing Time on the Roller Coast'. Parfitt recounted how 'the soaring highs, sunken lows and how the experience she once was so desperate to escape became the ride of her life.

Corporate policies for families

An experienced panel of HR professionals discussed 'Corporate policies for families: Best and Worst Practices'. The seminar room was packed, and panel /audience interaction was energetic and enthusiastic. 

As the FIGT conference demonstrates, families are an often untapped resource.  If corporations are proactive and progressive in the support they offer, feedback from families and assignees can serve as useful barometers for those in HR responsible for assignment placements and policy making.  

In the words of one conference participant : 'I feel after 20 years of living overseas, l have finally come home, meeting people who speak a common language, and who really understand, FIGT is truly extended family.

The next FIGT Conference ‘Supporting the family accomplishing the assignment’ will be held in Houston, Texas 6 – 8 March 2008.

9 August 2007

A report compiled with thanks to Marian Weston.

[Copyright Expatica August 2007]