Benin - Working and dealing with the Beninese
Objectives
The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Beninese, enabling them to be operational right from the start.
At the end of this training, participants will have acquired insights and techniques to:
- Be aware of their own cultural baggage
- Fully understand Beninese context and culture
- Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
- Reduce stress and misunderstandings
- Decipher and understand Beninese decision-making and negotiation processes
Programme Outline
Module 1 : Understanding cultural differences
1. Intercultural awareness : the key to success in international business
- Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
- The basics of effective intercultural management
- Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes
2. Key aspects of Beninese culture
- From Dahomey to Benin: a proud history
- The heritage of French colonisation
- A patchwork quilt of tribes and ethnic groups
- Christianity, Islam, voodoo and mysticism
- A developing economy
3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships
- Family life is sacrosanct
- Significant inequality of the sexes
- A notion of time based on nature
- The socialisation of the hinterland
- A respect for elders and for status
- An emphasis on hospitality and personal relationships.
- Avoiding conflicts through peaceful and harmonious relationships
4. The Beninese corporate world
- Paternalistic company structure
- Decision-making centred on the company hierarchy
- The pitfalls of nepotism
- Professional relationships
Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Beninese
1. Effective communication with the Beninese
- A reserved and implicit communication style
- The importance of visual and gestural communication
- The deceptive simplicity of using the French language
2. Adapting your working methods
- Effective management: expertise, charisma and diplomacy
- Building trust and confidence: kindness and an open mind
- Prudence and restraint
- Avoiding frustration and anticipating resistance
- Pitfalls to be avoided
3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Beninese
- Initiating dialogue
- Persevering, waiting and confirming
- The benefits and pitfalls of personal relationships
- Understanding written contracts, their interpretation and implications
- Organising the post-negotiation phase
4. Final handy tips
- Caution, patience and humility
- Protocol and etiquette
- Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code, etc
- Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
- Humour: a double-edged sword
