Hiring global and remote talent opens up incredible opportunities, but it also comes with its own set of challenges.
We sat down with Amy Davies, Managing Director of Workwell Global, to share her personal experience of leading teams in multiple countries. Having spoken with countless business leaders who have grown their teams globally, Amy shares her top three tips on how to hire globally with confidence.
1. Understand Work Culture Differences When Hiring Global Talent
“Cultural nuances significantly impact how teams communicate, collaborate, and resolve challenges. When working across borders, understanding these differences isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for building a cohesive and productive global team. As someone who leads global teams, I cannot overstress the importance of adapting your leadership style to meet diverse cultural expectations (hence why this tops my list!).”
One key factor to consider is the difference between high-context and low-context communication cultures. High-context cultures typically rely heavily on implicit communication, shared understanding, and non-verbal cues. Conversely, low-context cultures prefer direct, explicit, and clear communication.
Amy describes the culture in which she comes from as high-context. Subsequently, she states that she has learned to adapt her communication style for employees who are working in low-context cultures.
This might involve being more direct and clearer in email exchanges, providing detailed explanations, or explicitly outlining expectations to avoid misunderstandings.
To help bridge these gaps between cultures:
Invest in cross-cultural training
Equip yourself and your team with the knowledge to navigate cultural differences. Training can help employees understand the nuances of different work styles, communication preferences, and problem-solving approaches.
Foster respect for diversity
Celebrate cultural differences rather than treating them as obstacles. Encourage open conversations about cultural expectations and build a workplace that values inclusivity.
Research local norms
Before expanding into a new region, take the time to research and understand local customs, holidays, and work ethics. For example, some cultures prioritise collective decision-making, while others emphasise individual accountability.
Ultimately, understanding and embracing work culture differences is a cornerstone of creating a global team that thrives. When team members feel seen and respected, they’re more likely to collaborate effectively, innovate, and deliver their best work.
2. Clone Your Company Culture When Hiring Global Talent
“Your company culture serves as the glue that binds a global workforce together, providing a shared sense of purpose, values, and identity regardless of location. When building out a team in a new country, many business leaders stress the importance of ‘cloning’ the culture of their home or HQ office. This means intentionally imprinting the core values, behaviours, and rituals that define your company DNA across all locations.”
Amy strongly recommends that you should be intentional with your onboarding, tailoring the process and your induction to reinforce your values and foster virtual team connections.
Why is this important? Because a unified company culture creates consistency, promotes loyalty, and ensures employees feel part of the same mission, no matter where they are based. It also helps prevent fragmentation, where different teams or regions develop conflicting priorities or workstyles.
Here’s how to effectively clone your company culture on a global scale:
Be intentional with onboarding
Onboarding is your first opportunity to immerse new hires in your culture. Go beyond the basics of processes and role expectations; dedicate time to sharing your company’s story, mission, and values. Use examples and success stories from your HQ team to illustrate how these values are lived out daily.
Encourage virtual team connections
With global teams, creating opportunities for employees to connect across borders is critical. Schedule regular virtual meetups, cross-regional projects, and team-building exercises. These interactions help reinforce shared values and allow employees to feel part of a cohesive whole, even if they work thousands of miles apart.
Celebrate your company culture
Just like any part of your business, company culture shouldn’t be taken for granted. It should be something that is nurtured, to prevent it from stagnating. One way you can do this is to embed cultural moments into the daily rhythm of work. This can be achieved through weekly shout-outs that highlight team wins, monthly town halls, or annual celebrations of company milestones. This keeps your culture alive and top-of-mind for employees everywhere.
3. Partner with Experts for Compliance When Hiring Global Talent
“This has been successful for many of the business leaders I have worked with and supported through Workwell Global; we’ve helped them engage and payroll remote talent compliantly in many locations globally allowing them to focus on growing the business!”
Employment compliance differs by country, and in some cases, region-by-region. When it comes to employing in unfamiliar markets, it costs to get it wrong! Where appropriate, Amy recommends working with a trusted partner to help you overcome blind spots; be it tax obligations, worker classification, payroll processing or legal nuances.
The resulting cost of non-compliance is high, but the peace of mind that comes from knowing you’re doing everything by the book is priceless. With the right partner, you can confidently expand your global team and unlock new growth opportunities.
Hire Global Talent Compliantly Wherever in the World
Expanding your workforce across borders is a game-changing opportunity, but it’s not without its challenges, especially when it comes to compliance. However, that is where we make it work for you. At Workwell Global, we understand that navigating the complexities of hiring and paying international talent can be daunting. That’s why we’re here to simplify the process for you.
From onboarding to payroll, expenses, insurance, and benefits, we take care of the details compliantly, in accordance with the latest regulations.
With decades of experience as a trusted Global Employer of Record we specialise in simplifying workforce management for businesses looking to hire employees in new markets. Whether you wish to test out the market with your first hire, or want to scale your current operations, our team provides the guidance and support you need to succeed.
Ready to take your global hiring strategy to the next level? Workwell Global is here to help you make it happen. Schedule a consultation to discuss your business expansion goals and how you can easily start hiring employees wherever in the world!
Disclaimer: The information provided here does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. Instead, the information and content available are for general informational purposes only.