Botswana - Working and dealing with the Batswana
Objectives
The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Batswana, 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 Batswana context and culture
- Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
- Reduce stress and misunderstandings
- Decipher and understand Bosnian decision-making and negotiation processes of the Batswana
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 Batswana culture
- A desert region within the Kalahari area
- A multi-confessional but chiefly Christian country
- A tribal and multi-ethnic society
- The impact of British colonisation
- A fragile economy
3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships
- A patriarchal society
- A sense of identity: the subsumption of ethnic divisions
- Tolerance and moderation
- Timidity and restraint
- A respect for elders
- The value attached to status and qualifications
4. The corporate world in Botswana
- Hierarchical companies but nevertheless attentive to their staff
- Formality and discipline
- The great importance attached to reliability and productivity
- Professional relationships
Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Batswana
1. Effective communication with the Batswana
- Formal greetings
- Characteristics specific to certain ethnic groups: factors to be taken into account
- The meaning of silence and tone during implicit communication
- English, Setswana and dialects
2. Adapting your working methods
- Effective management: informing, involving and listening
- Building trust and confidence: reliability and leadership. Leading by example
- Using praise, flattery and respect to boost performance
- Encouraging dynamism: the importance of relationships outside work
- Pitfalls to be avoided
3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Batswana
- Behaving in a sincere, reasonable and friendly manner
- The importance of socialising outside work
- Patience and perseverance
- 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
