Who Should Attend ?

 Company managers and staff working and dealing with the British

Benefits of Attendance

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

• An island kingdom proud of its identity
• A multi-ethnic population
• A class system characterised by tradition
• A thousand year history.  A complex Parliamentary monarchy.
• One of the world's leading economic powers
• A two speed educational system

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

• The family: a sign of social identity
• A state religion open to the world: the basics of Anglicanism
• The influence of tradition on British open-mindedness
• A respect for rank, order, individualism and freedom
• "Time is money", sport and surpassing one’s own capabilities
• Composure and humour: managed detachment

4. The British corporate world

• Structure, hierarchy, control
• The social partners (management and employees’ representatives)
• Working methods and the notion of quality
• Professional relationships

Module 2 : Succeeding in work with the British

1. Effective communication with the British

• English: a complex language with a host of possible nuances
• Non-verbal communication, verbal language and irony: hidden messages
• Forthrightness and euphemisms
• The role of networking

2. Adapting your working methods

• Appearance and formality
• Achieving personal credibility: punctuality, honesty, reliability
• Effective management: efficiency, accessibility and bearing
• Fair play: a rejection of favouritism.  Joint decision-making
• Respect for the individual
• Isolating conflicts
• Relationships in and out of work: avoiding confusion
• Pitfalls to be avoided

3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the British

• Breaking the ice to build trust and confidence
• Speaking and behaving in a professional manner
• The importance of meeting deadlines
• Attitudes to contracts and their implications

4. Final handy tips

• Caution, patience and humility
• Protocol and etiquette
• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code, etc
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
• British humour, the role of the pub