Who Should Attend ?

Company managers and staff working and dealing with the Poles

Benefits of Attendance

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

• Situated at a crossroads between Western and Eastern Europe
• A rich and turbulent history
• A uniform population with significant regional differences
• An identity based around the Polish language and Catholicism
• The educational system

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

• The family, man and god
• A high degree of individualism combined with a strong community spirit
• Consensus-based thinking
• An entrepreneurial spirit
• Pride and touchiness
• Passion and emotions as part of day-to-day life

4. The Polish corporate world

• The impact of communism upon working methods. 
• The American model
• Respect for hierarchies.  Powerful unions
• Skills, professions and roles: unemployment as a key factor

Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the Poles

1. Effective communication with the Poles

• Politeness and courtesy: a respect for etiquette
• The importance of networking
• Understanding the true meanings of yes and no.  Understanding unspoken and verbal communication
• The Polish language: a definite advantage where communication is concerned

2. Adapting your working methods

• Effective management: leading, cooperating and verifying
• Key skills: a strong character, leadership and responsiveness
• Building trust and confidence: empathy, respect and a willingness to listen
• Boosting your credibility: legitimacy and diplomacy
• Encouraging ambition in order to maintain performance
• Pitfalls to be avoided

3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Poles

• Helpers and mediators
• Monetary adjustments
• Giving relationships that personal touch: setting deadlines, maintaining dynamism
• 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