Today’s recap is written by Caty Kobe, a member of the TChat community and the Focus Community Manager.

Last night’s #TChat made one thing was clear: globalization means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. People from all corners of the Twitterverse came forward to share thoughts, ideas, definitions, opinions and suggestions based on years of experiences across a wide variety of cultures.

Many agreed that globalization is creating incredible new opportunities for both workers and their employers, but cautioned that certain opportunities may come at the cost of exploiting other people and cultures. Technology and social media are certainly aiding in breaking down linguistic and physical barriers, yet we agreed there’s no way to automate the dissolution of cultural barriers. In other words, nothing will ever replace the good ole fashioned handshake.

Corporate America has a lot to learn from their counterparts overseas. For years we’ve been perceived as operating under the assumption that the American Way is the only way, but globalization is quickly proving this false. In order to succeed, US businesses must invest in diversity programs, language training and offer flexible work schedules. We must be willing and able to accept other cultures as equals.

So how do we attack this daunting to-do list? Leadership teams and employees all share the responsibility in commencing change. Cultural shifts will likely start from the Top, but don’t wait for your boss’ permission to learn a new language or nurture relationships through the web. Globalization has forever changed the way we do business. Better to embrace it and learn the strategies required to succeed in this rapidly shrinking world.

One last thing before I go, please be sure to mark your calendars for Wednesday August 31^st. #TChat Radio returns to Focus.com with an all new live episode! We will be featuring a few special friends from the 12 Most Blogging Community! Look forward to sharing more details with you soon. Our goal is to bring two live radio shows every month along with our regular #TChat on Twitter which happens every Wed from 7-8pm ET.

You can read the #TChat preview here, and here were last night’s questions:

Q1: How is globalization changing the world of work?

Q2: What lessons can US workers & leaders learn from their international colleagues?

Q3: What role does workplace or business culture play when working internationally or with global teams?

Q4: What can leaders do better to meet the needs of a global or international business?

Q5: How is technology or social media influencing the rise of global business?

Q6: What are the biggest opportunities for organizations going global?  Biggest drawbacks?