Expatriate Effectiveness: Preparation and Transition D., a world-leader in his area of technical expertise, was about to relocate from the US to Germany. In the framework of 1.5 days of an individual cultural preparation and coaching session, he received information about German business behaviors, mindsets, communication styles and values structures that allowed him to develop a strategy and action plan for creating maximum impact within the new European setting. Based on this preparation, he avoided pitfalls and time-consuming “trial and error” learning in the early phase of the assignment. A few months into the assignment, he chose to continue his learning journey by working through lessons learned and addressing new challenges ahead (especially regarding managing team conflict between different European parties) with the cultural coach who had also worked with him in the preparation phase. His determination to pay attention to and master the cultural dynamics of his new role significantly contributed to project success for the organization. Note Expatriate assignments are generally very expensive for organizations. A surprisingly high number of expatriates - around 30% -, fail or underperform abroad. Cultural preparation for the expatriate (and the family) as well as transition coaching help expatriates succeed in adapting to the new country environment. This in turn enhances effectiveness and productivity, as well as overall satisfaction (a major factor in retention with the organization). Kultur & Management, Inc., has worked with hundreds of expatriates and their families around the globe, providing clients with pre-departure cross-cultural services, cultural transition coaching, post-arrival trainings and re-entry training/coaching.