11/2007
Two specific features of coaching had a prominent impact on me; the opportunity to openly discuss things without the political pressures and restraints of the organisation and receiving an outsiders perspectives on your situation, thoughts, aspirations and goals. Coaching helped me distance myself from the every day execution of tasks, allowing me to see and handle things more objectively.
So exclaims Samuli Pahkala (b. 1969). Samuli was coached by Mats Kockberg and Interpersona during the winter of 2000-2001 while working at his previous employer. Today he holds the position of Vaisala Instruments divisions Regional Sales and Marketing Manager for Japan and Korea. In addition he is also the operational manager of Vaisala Japan. On a whole, the company employs almost thirty people in Japan, of which half are in Instruments sales and marketing. All of Pahkala’s subordinates are Japanese nationals, as are his clients. He took on the position in January of 2006, after completing a five month transition period in Tokyo working with his predecessor. Samuli has been in Vaisala’s employment since 2002.
Interpersona’s coaching program took six months to complete.
The most tangible input the program had was the personal development scheme which I drew up during the coaching. With the help of the tools provided by Interpersona, I set myself goals to achieve professionally as well as ones to achieve personally during the next six, twelve and twenty-four months. Later, following these, it became apparent that I was not able to fulfil myself while in my current employment; so a year and a half after the coaching I got a new job with Vaisala, and have been extremely content with this decision. The coaching had been extremely beneficial to me when I was making these choices. It helped me set my aims and to make the necessary decisions to allow me to achieve them, Pahkala explains.
The challenges are endless
Samuli Pahkala’s Japanese assignment is also his first posting as a supervisor. Working in a foreign culture, as the only Finnish employee at the company in Japan has added to the challenge of the position.
The work is really interesting and rewarding; and there is certainly enough of it to keep me busy. One of my hobbies in Finland was ‘avantouinti’ (swimming in a hole cut out in the ice), and sometimes it feels over here like I’m learning to swim in cold water. The biggest challenges are the continuous learning of something new, the management of the personnel and their development, the development of the operations, and in general the management of change. Also, relinquishing my old role as a specialist, and growing into the new one as supervisor had its challenges. I am sure that these are challenges that all supervisors face, but in my case, they have been ‘spiced up’ by the additional need of adapting to a new culture and language.
Coaching would be in its element in this situation too, and it would be offered too. For the time being, I have been getting along by ‘sparring’ with my supervisors and the head office and a few local contacts. The latter are especially valuable as they have previous experience of the Japanese organisational culture. Coaching, as a matter of fact, is a part of every supervisor’s tasks, this I have come to notice having undergone some myself. Coaching by an external trainer or firm is naturally always more objective, and in a few difficult situations I have solicited external help to have someone go through the situation in Japanese with my personnel. I cannot call this ‘actual’ coaching however, as in these cases, the discussions have been sporadic in response to specific situations; and not progressive and systematic talks as a part of an overall development plan.
Questions concerning postings abroad are relevant to almost all businesses these days. The necessity of these positions is discussed and their significance on career development is debated. Adjustment concerns are relevant both when moving abroad and when returning home. Samuli’s observations are on the matter are both clear and positive.
Expatina work is professionally very rewarding. For me this has been a brilliant opportunity to grow and develop professionally due to the increasing responsibilities I have had to undertake as the head of and office. This experience has expanded my view of the world much more then expected, but at the same time the culture shock was also larger than anticipated. This is not only the case for my professional adjustment, but also for my family’s adaptation to the new environment. It was extremely difficult for us all at the beginning, but once things settled at work and everyday life got going we all gained a lot from this experience. I still have two years left of my contract, and our everyday life and activities function without the initial stress. My supervisor knew what he was on about when he exclaimed that ‘the first two years go to learning and only during the followingtwo will you be able to be of benefit to the business’ when offering the four year contract, Pahkala muses.
Hobbies are important to balance work
Samuli’s work is demanding and takes up much of his time and effort; but time has got to be set aside for hobbies and interests. This is also important for maintaining the strength to keep going.
My hobbies and interests are the same here as in Finland, cycling, trekking, volleyball and ‘avantouinti’; I have just had to adapt them to my new environment. I cycle to work 2-3 times a week in heavy traffic while in Helsinki, I would take a leisurely route through Keskuspuisto (the central park). During my free time I have no other choice but to cycle on busy roads, however, cycling season in Tokyo lasts 11 months of the year…
Autumnal ‘ruska’ treks in the tundra are only a dream to Samuli in Japan, where short hikes in the mountains are possible however. Japan’s nature is spectacular but sadly quite distant from inner city life.
I only have the possibility of playing volleyball when I am in Finland. I try to, and have been able to, play a game with my friends during our usual Wednesday night practices when ever I am in Finland for our sales meetings and conferences. Sadly this is only a few times a year, while when we were living in Finland I would try to regularly make it to the games every Wednesday. ‘Avantouinti’ has in turn been exchanged for sessions at the warm springs. Though the temperature of the water has changed, the swim serves the same purpose, namely to unwind. Relaxation is the main purpose of a hobby after all.
Samuli tries also to spend as much time as possible with his family.
In a foreign culture your circle of friends is more tight-knit than back home; and the children particularly cannot enjoy the same possibilities for playing and exercising or pursuing hobbies out doors in a large city as they would in Finland. My wife Riika’s contribution to the children is naturally far greater then mine, but as a Finnish man I try to keep my working day to under 9 hours and to partake as much as possible in the work around the house and the care of the children. Luckily I have relatively few business trips; as it would be rather unfair on the family to first have moved them to the other side of the planet and then be away from ‘home’ most of the time.
Through our own efforts we have established a pleasant social network which makes our stay in a foreign country much more comfortable. In the beginning Riika met other Finns through the weekly meetings of the ‘Suomi Club’ for mothers and young children, and then later in the monthly ‘Suomi School’. Myself, I participate in the Finnish chamber of commerce. In addition, the children’s attendance of the International School has allowed us to make friends from around the world, from South Africa, North America, the Far East and Western Europe.
