Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates: The role of emotional intelligence and gender, with Alexei Koveshnikov and Cecile Dejoux
Highlights
The study examines the role of emotional intelligence (EI) in cross-cultural adjustment (CCA) of expatriates on international assignments. Based on a sample of 269 French expatriates operating in 133 countries, our analysis finds a significant and positive relationship between EI and expatriates’ general living, interactional and work-related CCA. Additionally, it shows that cultural similarity only facilitates general living adjustment and not interactional or work adjustments. Finally, our analysis reveals an interesting interaction effect between gender and the ability to appraise and express emotions: the influence of the latter on all three dimensions of CCA tends to be slightly stronger for male than female expatriates. The study offers important practical implications for organizations concerning the identification and development of successful expatriates.
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Cite
Koveshnikov, A., Wechtler, H., & Dejoux, C. (2014). Cross-cultural adjustment of expatriates: The role of emotional intelligence and gender. Journal of World Business, 49(3), 362-371.
Practitioners' bit
When sending employees abroad for assignments, organizations often focus on technical expertise. Yet, cross-cultural adjustment—the ability to feel at ease and perform effectively in a new country—plays a pivotal role in the success of these assignments. One factor that can make a big difference? Emotional intelligence (EI), which includes the ability to manage, express, and understand emotions.
Interestingly, the research found that gender influences how emotional intelligence supports cross-cultural adjustment. While women generally score higher in EI, certain emotional skills seem to help men even more in expatriate contexts. For example, men who excel at recognizing and expressing emotions (a key aspect of EI) often experience smoother adjustments to their personal and professional lives abroad. This advantage could be because emotional expressiveness in male managers is sometimes seen as a unique strength, balancing traditionally masculine leadership traits with empathy and communication.
For practitioners, the takeaway is clear: selecting expatriates isn't just about technical skills. Emotional intelligence should be a priority, and training programs can help develop these critical abilities. Additionally, challenging traditional assumptions about gender and leadership can lead to better support for all expatriates, maximizing their chances of success on international assignments.
Podcast: https://youtu.be/hNA-3waONTo
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