The term global citizen keeps popping up every now and then when you’re reading something online.
What or who is a global citizen?
In simple terms, a global citizen is a citizen of the world. Sounds idealistic, maybe even naïve, don’t you think so?
Well, a global citizen is someone who takes into account the social, cultural, environmental, economic and political aspects of the world when taking any action.
Unlike those who see the world only through the lens of nationality, or some other distinction, a global citizen recognises that their actions, big or small, have the ability to impact beyond borders.
Think about the traveller who when visiting places as a tourist, actively engages with local communities, respects their traditions, and adapts to the social environment. That’s being a global citizen in practice.
They transcend boundaries, geographically or politically, and form an image which identifies them with their ideas and responsibilities, not nationality.
These borderless individuals work to bring about policy changes, demand equity and encourage sustainable practices to protect the planet.
This becomes more relevant in today’s interconnected world. You can reach out to anyone, anywhere.
But what does it mean to call yourself a global citizen? There are a few real-world benefits if you think yourself to be one.
1. Global Career Opportunities
That’s one of the biggest, most obvious, advantages.
You’re no longer restricted to jobs available locally or within your country. You can now apply to a suitable job opening anywhere in the world.
According to a 2023 LinkedIn report, companies which have diverse, global teams see a 35% increase in innovation.
Cross-cultural awareness and adaptability are highly sought skills in professionals in industries like tech and education. You can’t expect to work in a multicultural environment while stuck in your ‘local’ mindset.
Your cultural competence becomes your super skill. Your ability to accept the differences and be empathetic helps you fit into a multilingual, cross cultural professional setting.
Business, education, tourism, healthcare, tech, are all in the frontline of international collaboration.
To benefit from the global market, its essential to develop a global mindset.
2. Builds Stronger Personal Relationships
It’s your global mindset which will ensure that you build stronger relationship.
When you interact with clients or students or coworkers from across the borders, you learn about their culture, their language, food, views, society, and a multitude of other elements.
This exposure to new cultures helps you to appreciate, empathise, understand and respect the differences. It helps to get over stereotypes.
By keeping yourself open-minded and ready to learn about others, you develop personal relationships which add more meaning to the interactions.
During my Italian lessons online, my tutor and I would often digress from the lesson to talk about a whole lot of other things. While she rattled on fluently I would haltingly try to make sense of what she said. But in all I learnt more about Italy and Italians than I would’ve ever otherwise.
Classes have long since got over but what started off as a professional relationship has now transformed into a beautiful friendship. These cross-cultural friendships enrich our lives, making the world feel a little smaller and lot more connected.
3. Nurtures Acceptability, Adaptability and Resilience
By keeping your mind open and accepting, the biggest advantage is becoming more adaptable.
You learn to navigate cultures, bridge differences, and handle problems with more empathy.
Imagine someone relocating to Japan may struggle with the indirect communication style where saying ‘No’ outright is considered impolite.
As a global citizen, you don’t get flustered in unfamiliar situations. Instead you resiliently work to adapt to reading between the lines and understanding the cultural subtleties.
This mindset makes you a better colleague, partner, coworker and team member.
This kind of cultural awareness is essential when the number of people travelling overseas has increased exponentially.
4. World Peace (um, not the beauty contest types)
Global citizens are citizens of the world, breaking down barriers and building bridges across cultures.
From youth exchange programs to grassroot activists, global citizens engage in initiatives that support ethical brands or engage in international dialogues.
They promote tolerance and cooperation across boundaries by addressing stereotypes and countering misinformation.
They’re the cultural ambassadors, bringing positive impact through their initiatives. Be it their work at grassroot levels or at the board rooms, they’re slowly getting the world to focus on what we have in common – our humanity.
Conclusion
It’s a perfect opportunity to get out of the small pond and see the world for yourselves.
Exposure to new environments gives you a chance to broaden your horizon and learn first-hand about the world you inhabit instead of feeding on the biased worldviews fed through the media.
Becoming a global citizen is a mindset. It’s about seeking cultural experiences, doesn’t matter if it’s through travel, reading or learning a language, professional connections, forging friendships or just challenging stereotypes.
It’s a beautiful journey of learning nurturing a broader, more inclusive world view.
So how do you plan to embrace your role as a global citizen? Get ready to explore a new perspective.
