Darin Short is a global leadership consultant who empowers individuals and teams to thrive across cultures. His work is all about uncovering the unseen—cultural nuances, communication styles, and organizational behaviors that often go unnoticed yet impact performance and relationships. At Humans of Fuzia, we feature Darin to inspire our community of over 5 million, showing how leadership, awareness, and inclusion can transform teams and individuals alike.
Q: Can you share a bit about your work and mission?
Darin: At a high level, I provide leadership guidance for individuals and companies operating globally. I focus on enhancing team performance by making cultural differences visible. Often, organizational culture influences communication, relationships, efficiency, and profitability—but it’s not discussed openly. My role is to create space for these conversations so teams can understand and leverage their differences effectively.
Q: How do you approach communication across cultures?
Darin: Communication goes beyond words. For example, a smile can mean different things in different countries. I help teams understand the subtleties behind what’s being said, uncovering hidden dynamics that affect perception and interaction. My work shows that 85% of communication is non-verbal, and by understanding these subtleties, teams can work together more effectively.
Q: Do you work with individuals, teams, or both?
Darin: Both. I coach individuals using various assessments to help them understand their orientation toward cultural differences and leadership style. I also work with teams of 10–20 people to enhance collaboration, highlighting strengths and potential challenges in communication and team dynamics.
Q: Who benefits most from your work?
Darin: Everyone. Leaders, aspiring leaders, and team members all gain from understanding cultural nuances. I focus particularly on small to mid-sized companies with global operations, where my impact is most significant and affordable.
Q: How do you promote your work digitally?
Darin: Mostly through LinkedIn, social media, and my website. Email marketing also plays a role, though I’m not currently using newsletters. While I have some support for website management and social media, I’ve learned that teamwork is essential—even for solopreneurs.
Q: What challenges do you face?
Darin: The biggest challenge is maintaining a consistent flow of work as an independent consultant. Once I engage with a client, the work itself is smooth, but securing a steady pipeline can be tricky. I’m also developing a Global Leadership and AI Inspiration Lab to help leaders navigate cultural and technological shifts, especially with AI integration.
Q: Any advice for individuals navigating organizational challenges?
Darin: If you notice tensions or unspoken issues at work, don’t be afraid to bring them up. Others are likely aware too. Respectful discussions about differences create new awareness, strategies, and opportunities for collaboration. In smaller companies, these conversations are often best had with the CEO or C-suite leaders who influence organizational culture.
“Don’t be afraid to identify differences and explore them. Respectful conversations about these differences create new knowledge, awareness, and strategies for working together.” — Darin Short
Connect with Darin Short:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/darin-short-343b7b4/
Want to be featured?
If you’d like to be featured in the Humans of Fuzia series, email us at fuziatalent@fuzia.com.
