“Standard” Intercultural Course

OBJECTIVE

To increase the trainees’ cross-cultural competence so that they can improve their work / business relationships with people from other cultures.

Después del curso, los participantes:

After the training, the trainees will:

– Know the most significant cultural differences (see below)

– Understand better the cultural logic behind each cultural preference.

– Know the strengths and weaknesses of each.

– Have tools to work and/or conduct business more effectively with people from other countries.

 
CONTENT

Cultural dimensions analyzed in the workshop:

• Identity: individual o collective

– Communication styles (sincere or diplomatic)
– Decision making process
– Blame and rewards
– Motivation

• Attitude towards the unknown

– Enthusiasm for innovation or preference for stability.
– Thinking patterns: inductive or deductive

• Vision of time:

– Priority to the schedule or to the personal relationships
– One task or several tasks at the same time
– Orientation: past, present or future
– Orientation: short, medium or long term

• Power distribution

– Hierarchies: superiors and subordinates
– Leadership styles
– Level of formality

• Norms: rigid or flexible

– The business contract
– The price
– Marketing

• Initial trust

– High or low

• Involvement in workplace / business

– Personal o impersonal
– Divide between work and private life
– A “good” business presentation
– Starting a negotiation

• Expression of emotions:

– Communication: expressive or controlled
– Interruptions: tolerated or avoided
– Silence and humor
– Non verbal communication
– Credibility

• “Masculinity” or “Femininity”:

– Gender roles
– Values: Productivity or Quality of life
– Be strong or be tender

 

The optimal duration of this course is one day but an interactive lecture (4-5 hours) is also proposed.