You got the job. Now what? Some advice for thriving in your new job in China. DO seek out a local lieutenant. Someone familiar with the local landscape and with connections will prove invaluable. DON’T automate everything. Sometimes a technology solution is not appropriate, and manual processes may prove cheaper. DO attempt to learn the language. Or, at least a few words. That shows respect. DON’T import your management style without modification. What works in terms of motivation or communication in the United States may not go over as well in China. Keep an open mind and learn what works and abandon what doesn’t. DO get out of the office. Visit the Forbidden City. Eat in local restaurants. All work and no play makes for a dull CIO. And cultural immersion will not only benefit you personally but professionally too. DON’T meet reluctance with force. There’s nothing worse than an overbearing expat. Approach challenging situations with patience and empathy. Understand the rationale behind resistance before deciding how to overcome it. DO make sure you have your family’s support. Eighty percent of executives going to China on an assignment are accompanied by their families. Even if you’re not living in China full-time, constant travel back and forth will affect your home life. If your family’s not happy, you’re not happy. DON’T assume you’ll have local software and IT services support. The local market is still underdeveloped. Have a plan to fill in the gaps. Related content feature 13 essential skills for accelerating digital transformation IT leaders too often find themselves behind on business-critical transformation efforts due to gaps in the technical, leadership, and business skills necessary to execute and drive change. By Stephanie Overby Jun 05, 2023 12 mins Digital Transformation IT Skills tip 3 things CIOs must do now to accurately hit net-zero targets More than a third of the world’s largest companies are making their net-zero targets public, yet nearly all will fail to hit them if they don’t double the pace of emissions reduction by 2030. This puts leading executives, CIOs in particul By Diana Bersohn and Mauricio Bermudez-Neubauer Jun 05, 2023 5 mins CIO Accenture Emerging Technology case study Merck Life Sciences banks on RPA to streamline regulatory compliance Automated bots assisted in compliance, thereby enabling the company to increase revenue and save precious human hours, freeing up staff for higher-level tasks. By Yashvendra Singh Jun 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation Robotic Process Automation feature Expedia poised to take flight with generative AI CTO Rathi Murthy sees the online travel service’s vast troves of data and AI expertise fueling a two-pronged transformation strategy aimed at growing the company by bringing more of the travel industry online. By Paula Rooney Jun 02, 2023 7 mins Travel and Hospitality Industry Digital Transformation Artificial Intelligence Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe