Some things simple simply aren’t; at least at first. While chatting recently over cocktails I was reminded (thank god for cocktails) of a past life career that took me overseas on a number of occasions. While there were many experiences during that tenure which helped me grow in a number of different ways (inside and out) it was my very first trip to my very first site that was the source of the memory.

It was (I say ‘was’ for in capitalism one should have capital) a little company with a great big mission that involved kids and their holistic well-being. The vehicle was well ahead of its time; physical activity but there was much more to it than that. It was one of those simple things that isn’t. Until you get it – then it is. Like tying your shoes. We franchised the concept through the US and internationally. My role was to help them ‘get it’. It was consulting in nature and it was awesome.

After nearly a year with the company I knew enough to be helpful (but at the same time not knowledgeable enough and so therefore dangerous). This position is familiar to many and I did what we all do – the best I could. In prepping for the trip, to open the first Thai facility, I asked the company founder about language – what are the challenges? I had trained the owners here in the States for nearly six weeks and knew they, at least, spoke better English than me. The founder’s answer was not to worry – he’d never encountered any issue at all. I accepted his answer gladly and well before I came to find out that he did not know what he was talking about.

After landing and several meetings with senior Thai management, who spoke English well enough, I headed out the door and down the facility’s main hallway to the meeting room where I would do the first day orientation for the folks who would actually be running the children’s programming on a daily basis; college educated PE people. I was prepped and prepared materials in hand imagining my positive imaging message – let’s get psyched we have important work to do! I walked down the hall with Sompit, the Thai owner, and heading into the conference room she says, “Now don’t talk too fast. No one in the room speaks English so I will translate the best I can”.

WTF? (I was WTF before WTF was). Twenty smiling faces newly hired excited at, for some, their first professional job working with kids. Little did they know they were about to learn nothing. I have, like you, been thrown curve balls before and expecting something different you change your stance move the mitt and catch the ball.

What followed in the next four hours was exhausting AND exhilarating. I did slow down – but not my language first – it followed. What I had come to learn is that translation is not a ‘you say this word and I will go find it in my language and then use it’. Translation is culturally contextual in that after I said what I said she washed its meaning and then spoke to the thoughts and ideas behind my words in her native language. I can’t even imagine how that happens – but it does. So my thinking slowed down as I worked to choose words that more clearly expressed the meaning of whatever topic I was on at the moment. I was mindful to check on clarity much more often than I ever had previously. The day was a success and I know that I learned much more than they in very many ways.

We translate too everyday – English to English. It too is culturally contextual but on a more micro basis – the differences are more subtle – a crack versus a chasm. We usually succeed in the effort but not always. We take much for granted like tying our shoes. But it is only easy once we ‘get it’. And that takes a little awareness and even more practice.

That is unless you use loafers in your language.

Jim

jim@thepeopleacademyinc.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/jimreece

@jimreece