Cultural intelligence
In an increasingly globalised business environment, ubiquitous technologies such as email, Zoom, MSTeams, etc, have massively facilitated cross-border peer-to-peer communication.
At the same time, they have massively increased the potential for mis-communication.
We expect everyone to be able to use the medium, the technology, and we give them training for it, but for some reason we don’t pay as much attention to the message, and how we communicate in a cross-cultural work environment.
Cross-border teams, virtual teams, remote working, agility, collective intelligence – these all require a greater level of cultural awareness, of cultural intelligence, than ever before.
Hence this unique range of 90-minute virtual classroom sessions, focused on understanding cultural difference and sharing numerous practical tips for working as part of, or managing, a global team.
The sessions have been designed, and are delivered mainly, by our lead cross-culture specialist, Angela Lequenne. A tri-lingual Italian living and working in Paris, this is a subject close to her heart. She delivers these sessions in English, French or Italian, as required. Sessions can also be run in other languages, by other members of our global delivery team.
Introductory sessions
‘Understanding cultural difference’ is the best starting point and a pre-requisite for the ‘deep dives’ and ‘country focus’ sessions.
Understanding cultural difference
Doing business internationally is a daily matter for many companies and professionals. The same goes for working with customers, suppliers, and colleagues from different cultures.
Most people, however, underestimate the importance of intercultural competence, thinking that as long as the two parties speak the same language (ie, English) everything is going to be fine.
This interactive session focuses on the key components of what we call ‘culture’ and provides some tips to avoid the most common pitfalls of intercultural communication. It’s the essential introduction to a complete cycle of deep-dive modules on cross-cultural communication and management.
Managing global teams
Doing business internationally is a daily matter for many companies and professionals. Working and managing remotely is also a growing trend, with specific activities and teams located across the globe, under the supervision of headquarter-based managers.
Although managing global teams and team members from different cultures is widespread, most managers underestimate the importance of cross-cultural competence, thinking that as long as everybody can speak the same language (ie, English) everything will run smoothly.
This interactive session focuses on the key challenges related to managing people from different cultures and provides tips to avoid the most common pitfalls of cross-cultural communication.
Together with the ‘Understanding cultural difference’ module, this webinar is a ‘must-do’ for anyone wanting to be successful in a global environment.
‘Deep dives’
These are best run as a series, although ‘pick and mix’ can work well too.
1 Giving effective feedback across cultures
This interactive session focuses on the importance of knowing how to give effective feedback to people who do not share our cultural background. Communication style, relationship to power, as well as individual perception of criticism and learning experiences heavily depend on our culture.
Everybody appreciates constructive feedback. What makes the (big!) difference is how the feedback is delivered, eg, the most positive and encouraging comment may be seen as embarrassing in some cases.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
2 Communication styles
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural aspect of communication style, which causes so many misunderstandings and mismatches. Whether we set out our expectations and objectives clearly, rather than using complex circumlocutions or indirect speech, is a typical cultural trait. Sharing our feelings and impressions, or appearing impassive, is also influenced by cultural habits and imperatives. That is why doing business internationally often requires us to be able to ‘read between the lines’ and to put things in perspective, toning down hyperbole or exaggerating an understatement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
3 Building relationships and trust
This interactive session focuses on two key cultural dimensions that influence business relationships and management styles: the amount of time we allow for social and interpersonal interactions, and the elements that influence our decisions in selecting and trusting business partners, depend heavily on our cultural values and habits.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
4 Time, rules and risk
This interactive session focuses on three key cultural dimensions that influence our business relationships and management styles. Setting up and conducting effective meetings, negotiations, or implementing change may all be very different matters, depending on the cultural values and habits of the parties.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
5 Hierarchy, collaboration and control
This interactive session focuses on three key cultural dimensions that influence business relationships and management styles. Perception of power and hierarchy influences one’s communication style, decision- making and project management. At the same time, our inner beliefs about collaboration and individual competition determine the way we build teams, delegate, and share information and knowledge.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
6 Rationality and emotional intelligence
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural aspects of rationality and emotional intelligence. The amount of detail we provide or require in a presentation, the way we deal with questions or objections, our attitudes towards agreement or challenge are very much culture-based.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Country focus sessions
Other countries can also be covered, on request, by members of our global delivery team.
Understanding the Austrian work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the Austrian work culture and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business with Austrian companies or when working with Austrian colleagues.
If you want to go beyond the stereotypes and really understand the Austrian approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the Czech work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the Czechs and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business in Czech.
If you want to recognise the stereotypes, go beyond them and really understand the Czech approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the French work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the French and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business across the Channel.
If you want to go beyond the stereotypes and really understand the French approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the German work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the Germans and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business with German companies or when working with German colleagues.
If you want to go beyond the stereotypes and really understand the German approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the Italian work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the Italians and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business in Italy.
If you want to go beyond the stereotypes and really understand the Italian approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the Singaporean work culture
Singapore is a cosmopolitan melting pot of cultures where east meets west. She is home to people from different cultures and ethnicities and the government of Singapore allows various cultures to grow and foster together harmoniously.
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of working with the various ethnic groups in Singapore and how to avoid the most common pitfalls in business dealings.
If you want to go beyond the stereotypes and really understand the approach to business relationships, negotiations, or meetings when working in Singapore, you need to attend this module.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
Understanding the Spanish / LATAM work culture
This interactive session focuses on the key cultural traits of the Spanish and LATAM culture and how to avoid the most common pitfalls when doing business with Spanish or LATAM companies or when working with Spanish or LATAM colleagues.
Rather than speaking about stereotypes, we will be focusing on each country’s tendencies in order to develop work strategies that include how to build business relationships, negotiate and conduct meetings more effectively in high uncertainty avoidant countries where hierarchies are big and belonging to the group is essential to conduct business.
Useful tips and experience-sharing make this session highly practical and easy to implement.
Prerequisite: having attended the introductory session on ‘Understanding cultural difference’.
We can, of course, tailor any of these webinars to your precise requirements or we can design a programme from scratch. Just give us a call today on 01582 463460.