(The following mostly covers media issues, but these principles have some relevance to the work of any international consultant.)

The American Way Is the Only Way.

This is not only misguided; it can be dangerous. For almost three centuries, American media laws and practices evolved and matured along with American democracy. In many developing countries, the “right to know” is not yet established. Journalists trying to exercise that right often lose their jobs, their liberty and in some cases their lives.

Training the Young Is the Best Hope for the Future.

If young journalists learn the best professional methods and then can’t practice them, the training has been wasted. Managers must buy into the process, not resist or dismiss it. They control the news organization’s product and business practices. Without their involvement, any effort to improve a station or agency will face influential resistance that can thwart any improvements in products or practices.

What Works for Us Will Work for Them.

This is often a mistaken assumption, particularly in news production. For example, the “tease” is a crucial component of nearly all U.S. television newscasts, using compelling pictures and clever wording to entice the audience to eschew the remote during a commercial break. Some media consultants insist on teaching the concept of the tease, even in countries with laws banning commercial breaks during newscasts. Such laws make teases moot and the consultant’s efforts superfluous at best.

A Good Translator Is All You Need for Good Communication.

In situations requiring translation, the speaker shares responsibility with the translator for effective communication. Americans love to tell jokes, speak with sarcasm and use fashionable phrases or slang. All these can cause serious misunderstandings when filtered through the sieve of translation. A skillful consultant knows how to communicate clearly through a translator while still keeping the atmosphere as light and enjoyable as the culture and topic will allow.

Any Experienced Professional Can Be a Consultant.

A consultant is far more than someone who spouts a litany of experiences to a room full of strangers. Consultants are teachers, mentors, advisers, critics, cheerleaders, story-tellers and sometimes even entertainers. They have to know their stuff, and they have to communicate that knowledge clearly and effectively. Plus, to borrow a phrase from “The Music Man,” they have to know the territory. A consultant who cannot tailor a presentation to local circumstances will fail.