Mali - Working and dealing with the Malians
Benefits of Attendance
The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Malians, 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 Malian context and culture
- Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
- Reduce stress and misunderstandings
- Decipher and understand Malian decision-making and negotiation processes
Training Approach
- Exercises and case studies based on the experience of participants in the company
- Personalized action plan and cross-cultural strategies
- Access to the Nomad’ Network, an exclusive online tool for Akteos’ clients and experts: find resources, exchange experiences, knowledge and insights
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 Malian culture
- The cradle of the Sudano-Sahelian empire
- A multi-ethnic population
- A pastoral and arable farming economy
- Links with the Malian diaspora
3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships
- Attachment to geographical and imaginary origins
- Horon, nyamakalan, jeliw…: The importance of nobility and castes
- The impact of Islam and traditional religions
- Marriage: a sacred requirement
- A respect for age and status
- A society in which men take precedence over women
- A sense of propriety and self-control
- Direct communication, jokes and humour
- A compartmentalised society according to age, gender, class and ethnic origin
- A flexible view of time
4. The Malian corporate world
- Working methods and the notion of quality
- A highly adaptable workforce
- Professional relationships
Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Malians
1. Effective communication with the Malians
- The decisive nature of greetings
- The subtleties of non-verbal communication
- Eye contact and pitfalls to be avoided
- The French language and regional dialects
2. Adapting your working methods
- Effective management: firmness, frankness and diplomacy
- Building trust and confidence: an ability to listen and personal empathy
- A crystal clear working environment: fairness, impartiality and transparency
- Anticipating and eliminating jealousy
- The temptation to simply "go with the flow": overcoming Musahala
- Motivation and praise: the importance of horizontal participation
3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Malians
- Building successful relationships
- Reciprocal commitments
- Appointing mediators
- Time, priority and deadline management
- 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
