Some non-U.S. born professionals are fluent in English, but may not be aware of the subtle expectations and unwritten rules governing workplace communication in the U.S. For example, in many other countries, being assertive may be culturally unacceptable, especially towards those of a higher status. Therefore some employees may refrain from expressing themselves in an assertive manner and may come across as timid or overly polite. An employee's cultural values of humility and deference to authority can result in the withholding of his or her expertise.

In contrast, some employees may appear to be aggressive or abrupt mainly because they are unfamiliar with professional norms of diplomacy and tact in English. They may convey a misleading image because of a culturally different use of English. In addition, they may not be aware of or comfortable with social norms of interaction in the workplace.

Patterns of communication that may hinder professional growth are not necessarily limited to recently arrived professionals from other countries. Some non-U.S. born employees who have been in the U.S. for years may be characterized as "good technically, but lack effective communication skills." Training for non-U.S. born professionals is designed to make explicit cultural and corporate expectations for effective communication. The ultimate goal of this type of training or coaching is not to "Americanize" employees. It is to increase participants' awareness and perception of their own communication styles, and to focus on cross-cultural effectiveness in the workplace.