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What living between languages taught me about leading between cultures

  • Writer: SANDRINE GELIN G&L SHIFT
    SANDRINE GELIN G&L SHIFT
  • Feb 3
  • 2 min read

Professional Coaching 3.0
What living between languages taught me about leading between cultures


Living between languages reshapes how you see the world, much like leading between cultures demands flexibility amid uncertainty. In Barcelona, Istanbul or Casablanca, where French, Spanish, English or Moroccan Darija swirl daily, I’ve learned that systemic leadership emerges when you feel comfortable within each language's framework of references. And when you live between languages like me - having done so for the past 11 years - unfamiliar ideas feel fluid.


The Power of Linguistic Shifts

A direct "no" in French can soften in Spanish. Moroccan Darija’s metaphors bring a particular relational depth. Beyond its vast usage, English references reflect very different cultural dimensions. This mirrors global careers: what feels straightforward at home becomes complicated abroad, challenging your identity and assumptions. And at the same time, shifting languages helps you adapting. Neuroscience reveals profound brain adaptations: daily use of 2-3+ languages boosts cognitive reserve and enhances executive functions like inhibitory control and attention.


Psychological Flexibility: The Bridge Builder

Psychological flexibility - the ability to stay present, open to discomfort, and choose value-driven actions - turns linguistic stumbles into leadership gold. Train it through mindfulness: pause before reacting to a misunderstood proverb, engage curiosity over frustration. Multilingual leaders flex this muscle naturally, enhancing empathy and problem-solving across teams. Ask yourself: Am I willing to feel the awkwardness of a half-translated thought?


Lessons from the Trenches

Living a multilingual reality in a multicultural place - a town, an office, a family - has revealed key insights for leaders:

1️⃣ Perspective expands : switching languages boosts neuroplasticity, and rewires your brain for multiple viewpoints. It is vital for navigating cultural differences without stereotypes.

2️⃣ Resilience grows: constant switching strengthens attentional control. Early mix-ups teach pausing to respond, not react - essential for high-stakes intercultural decisions.

3️⃣ Innovation sparks: enhanced executive functions from daily 2-3 language use invite creative hybrids.

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Leading with Linguistic Wisdom

What languages taught me about cultures? Leadership thrives in the "between" in the "interfaces" of linguistic systems - that space of openness where differences fuel resilience and innovation. It’s trainable, like any muscle: deliberate, value-aligned practice.


Web Site: www.glshift.com


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