Who Should Attend ?

Company managers and staff working and dealing with the Mexicans

Benefits of Attendance

The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Mexicans, 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 Mexicans context and culture
• Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
• Reduce stress and misunderstandings
• Decipher and understand Mexican decision-making and negotiation processes

Training Approach

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 Mexican culture

• A racially mixed country proud of its identity
• Historical influences
• The critical influence of religion
• A country with a very promising futur
• Education: a means of social betterment

3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships

• The role of the mother: a national institution
• Festive traditions
• An elastic view of time
• A spirit of hospitality
• A class-based society

4. The Mexican corporate world

• Mexican companies: a highly paternalistic environment
• A strong hierarchy
• The importance of status
• The influence of politicians and political parties

Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Mexicans

1. Effective communication with the Mexicans

• Openness and sociability: avoiding the pitfalls of familiarity
• Correctly interpreting gestures
• Maintaining your image and your standing
• Mexican Spanish, the English language and the role of the interpreter

2. Adapting your working methods

• Building trust and confidence: forging personal relationships
• Managing fairly and sensibly
• Taking decisions without ruffling feathers
• Motivating, delegating, providing feedback, boosting self-esteem and handling conflicts

3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Mexicans

• Personal commitment
• Taking all participants into account
• Learning to be patient
• Work time verses leisure time
• The value of the written word

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