Martinique - Working and dealing efficiently with the Martinican French
Benefits of Attendance
The aim of this seminar is to significantly improve the participants’ effectiveness in their professional relationships with the Martinicans, 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 Martinican context and culture
- Analyse possible situations in which misunderstandings may arise and identify ways of communicating
- Reduce stress and misunderstandings
- Decipher and understand Martinican decision-making and negotiation processes
Training Approach
- Exercises and case studies based on the experience of participants in the company
- Personalized action plan and cross-cultural strategies
- 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 : 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 Martinican culture
- Windward and Caribbean: a tropical island with irregular terrain
- A racially mixed population whose presence in the area is relatively recent
- A French overseas region and département
- An economy based chiefly on agriculture and tourism
3. The impact of values and behaviour patterns on professional dealings and relationships
- A well-rooted macho and paternalistic tradition
- Significant social compartmentalisation
- Spatial proximity and an adaptable view of time
- Black, West Indian and Creole identity: a distinctive national consciousness
- The importance of commemorative and festive social occasions
- A sense of honour and the need to save face
4. The Martinican corporate world
- A hierarchical corporate structure
- A work ethic which places the emphasis on performance
- Privilege, favouritism and nepotism
- The prevalence of public sector employment and the cruel reality of unemployment
Module 2 : Succeeding in work
1. Effective communication with the Martinican French
- Gossip and rumours: closely knit social networks
- The importance of protocol and etiquette
- A combination of direct and non-verbal communication
2. Adapting your working methods
- Establishing your credibility: prudence, perseverance and discretion
- Dealing with touchy and sensitive people: taking the time to listen and seeking to reach a consensus
- Consulting, deciding and acting
- Encouraging initiative and dynamism
- Pitfalls to be avoided
3. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Martinican French
- Preparing your arguments and your action plan
- Proposals, compromises, follow-up and perseverance
- The comparative advantage to be gained from networking
- Understanding 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
- Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
- Humour: a double-edged sword
