Who Should Attend ?

Company managers and staff working and dealing with French contacts.

Benefits of Attendance

The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with French contacts, enabling them to be operational right from the start.

At the end of this training, participants will have acquired insights and techniques to help them to:

• Be aware of their own cultural baggage
• Fully understand the French context and culture
• Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
• Reduce stress and misunderstandings
• Decipher and understand 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 Chinese stereotypes

2. Key aspects of French culture :

• A varied country, a cosmopolitan population, the French language
• A significant historical, philosophical, religious and cultural heritage
• Social and political life, the economic environment
• A dualist educational system, the importance of qualifications

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

• Fundamental values  : liberty, equality and… individualism
• A changing family environment, the role of French women: wife, mother and working woman
• French concepts of time and space
• Cartesian reasoning, a critical spirit, a fondness of debate
• A well-rooted sense of hierarchy, a "contestation culture"
• Attitudes to risk and uncertainty, the "D system".

4. The corporate world

• French companies: differences between small and major companies
• Working methods, the notion of quality
• Unemployment is the main worry for the French
• The dominant role of the authorities, the social partners
• A managed liberal economy

Module 2 : Succeeding in your work and dealings with the French

1. Effective communication with the French

• The importance of mastering the French language and of presentation
• A culture based on the written word but also on non-verbal communication
• The meaning of words and messages, differing interpretations
• Non-verbal communication, the role of facial expressions, spatial management
• Interpersonal relations: permeable social circles

2. Adapting your working methods

• Identifying cultural traits and customs
• Understanding organizational structures, procedures and decision-making processes
• Vanquishing individualism
• Enhancing performance
• Pitfalls to be avoided

3. Successful meetings and negotiations

• Identifying decision-makers and power chains
• French negotiation: diplomacy
• Time and deadline management
• The contract: a firm, final and binding agreement
• Organising the post-negotiation phase

4. Final handy tips

• Protocol and etiquette
• Social customs, gifts, dress code
• Delicate subjects: certain periods in history, immigration, money
• Favourite subjects: gastronomy, wine
• Humour and arrogance