When TL Global Insights was operating as primarily a translation company (Tender Leaves Translation), prospective clients would occasionally ask whether we could begin translating while they were still writing the original manuscript. At first glance, the idea seemed perfectly reasonable. If writing and translation could proceed simultaneously, surely the entire project would be completed sooner. We almost always rejected any job that was to be executed that way. The reason was not that it...

Trust is one of the most discussed concepts in leadership, communication, and organizational culture. It is also one of the least understood. Many people think of trust as a personal quality. We describe individuals as trustworthy or untrustworthy. We talk about trusting our colleagues, leaders, clients, and partners. While these descriptions are useful, they can sometimes obscure a more important reality. Trust is not simply a characteristic. t is a pattern. Organizations that enjoy high...

Understanding a culture begins with noticing what its people take for granted. When we first encounter another culture, our attention is usually drawn to the things that seem unusual. We notice unfamiliar foods, different customs, distinctive forms of dress, unexpected holidays, and ways of speaking that differ from our own. These visible differences are often fascinating, and they provide a natural starting point for learning, but they are rarely the source material for the deepest levels of...