Who Should Attend ?

Employees preparing for an assignment in Greece and their partners

Benefits of Attendance

This seminar aims at significantly improving the ability of the participants to meet the challenges of living and working abroad. The objective is to enable them to identify the stumbling blocks that lie ahead and to be able to adapt and integrate in Greece.

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

• Be aware of their own cultural baggage
• Understand Greek context and culture
• Analyse situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating more effectively
• Reduce and manage the symptoms of culture shock
• Understand Greek mindset, work practices, decision-making processes and negotiating styles
• Strike the right balance between personal et professional lives

Training Approach

• A cross-cultural approach of International Mobility
• Country specific trainers
• Personalized and familiy focused action plan
• 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 : Successful personnal integration in Greece

1. Cross-cultural awareness : the key to a successful expatriation

• Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
• Culture shock and the integration process
• Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes

2. Key aspects of Greek culture

• A land sandwiched between continents and archipelagos.
• The heritage of ancient philosophy.  The importance of the orthodox religion.
• The urban and rural differences of a homogenous people
• Long-standing traditions and a modernistic society 
• The recent renaissance of Greek democracy
• Privatisations and the black economy
• The educational system

3. Greek values and behaviour patterns

• Family life in Greece: the cornerstone of Greek society.  The role of women and children
• The “logos” or the importance of politics.  The prevalence of superstition.
• A unique relationship to time.
• An ambiguous view of authority and hierarchies
• Honour, pride, discipline and organisation

4. Practical day to day information

• Focus on the host town or city
• Transport, administration, housing, security, hygiene and healthcare
• Social life, leisure activities
• Schools and out-of-school activities:  “tavli”: a game for all ages

Module 2 : Successful professionnal integration in Greece

1. The Greek corporate world

• The importance of public companies. 
• "Afendikos" or the influence of the family within the company
• "Effendikos": Greek company managers and attitudes to responsibility
• A hard-working people

2. Effective communication with the Greeks

• Modernity and “katharevoussa”: the fundamental aspects of the Greek language
• Choosing the right interpreter
• The emphasis on direct communication.
• Informal dealings and relationships

3. Working with Greek teams

• The combination of individualism and team working.  The resourcefulness of the Greeks.
• Building trust and confidence: an emphasis on the personal touch
• Highlighting common interests. Dealing with touchy or sensitive people
• Effective conflict resolution: seeking consensus

4. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Greeks

• Fully involving partners.  Actively listening to others’ opinions
• Presenting your case: the joys of discussion
• Time and deadline management
• Attitudes to contracts and their implications.  Nothing is ever final.

5. Final handy tips

• Caution, patience and humility
• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code, etc
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion