Congo - Working and dealing with the Congolese
Objectives
The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Congolese, 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 Congolese context and culture
- Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
- Reduce stress and misunderstandings
- Decipher and understand Congolese 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 Congolese culture
- A multi-ethnic and extremely religious population in a secular state
- Impressive resources attracting intense international attention
- The Congo, Zaire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo: historical timeline
- The impact and scars of Belgian colonisation
- A fragile but encouraging political situation
3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships
- Hospitality and curiosity
- A society organised into separate clans and communities
- The many faces of Congolese women
- The importance attached to appearances and propriety
- The inspiration and influence of Christianity in day-to-day life
- A variable view of time according to the situation
- Humour, laughter and jokes
4. The Congolese corporate world
- A paternalistic and hierarchical corporate culture
- The high status of labour
- Key differences between the private and public sectors
Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Congolese
1. Effective communication with the Congolese
- Tactile and non-verbal communication
- Courtesy, banter and politeness
- Deciphering hints and unspoken messages
- The French language and local dialects
2. Adapting your working methods
- Effective management: experience, skills and productivity
- The benefits of adopting an open, firm and good-natured stance
- Encouraging commitment by giving praise and responsibility where it's due
- Creating a fair and neutral professional environment
- Giving relationships that personal touch
- Pitfalls to be avoided
3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Congolese
- The importance attached to meeting others and maintaining consistent relationships
- Deciphering hierarchical relationships
- Patience and perseverance
- 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
- Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
- Humour: a double-edged sword
