At some point, the moment comes when the hero leaves their familiar world behind. With one final push, they cross the threshold into a new reality. Resistance is overcome. The way is clear.
In the movie…
In Star Wars: Episode IV, the death of his aunt and uncle is the turning point for Luke Skywalker to set out on his journey and bring the plans for the Death Star to the Rebel Alliance. The journey begins at the spaceport in Mos Eisley, where the first adventures await.
In the life of an expat…
In reality, it is the expat’s first experiences in their destination country that make them realize, feel, and experience (!) how important it is to take cultural differences into account. What was previously recognized as important through reflection or training is now felt and experienced. It becomes clear that intercultural competence is essential.
The differences in leadership, communication, decision-making, quality, or understanding of conflict are no longer theoretical—they are real. Suddenly, you realize that your usual approach does not work as expected. Minor irritations, misunderstandings, or the feeling of not quite fitting in mark this transition phase.
The support…
As a mentor, you have to be there to provide support during these experiences. During this phase, the coach or mentor becomes an important sounding board – someone who provides guidance without judging.
Because now it’s not just about factual knowledge, but above all about self-awareness, interpretation, and new strategies for action.
What many people underestimate is that an assignment is not just an external (i.e., geographical) journey, but also an internal one. Moving abroad does not in itself mean that the inner threshold (i.e., the willingness to develop further) has been crossed. In order to complete the hero’s journey and actually bring something valuable back to the rest of the world, the inner journey must take place alongside the geographical one.
