Who Should Attend?

This training session is firstly dedicated to:

• International Human Resources Directors
• International Human Resources Managers
• International Mobility Managers
• International Recruitment Managers
• All international managers in their HR activities

Benefits of Attendance

• Decode and understandd one's own cultural baggage and its impact on their communication style
• Analyse impacts of the culture on one's international business relationships, with operational managers, associates, candidates, and colleagues
• Identifie cross-cultural misunderstandings and learn how to elaborate appropriate solutions
• Discusse with other HR managers on the key practices of intercultural skills to develop depending on each context

Training Approach

• Exercices on strategic cross-cultural situations met in the delegates' HR activities using a group problem-solving methodology
• Personalised Action Plan
• Exchanges on Best Practices with other HR professionals

Programme Outline

MODULE 1: UNDERSTANDING CULTURES AND THEIR DIVERSITY

1. Pinpointing cultural differences in business relationships

• Map of the potential cross-cultural misunderstandings in HR activities
• Identifying sources of ambiguity and incomprehension
• Reconciling differences

2. Developing awareness of culture's impact on communication

• The origins of culture and value systems
• Cross-cultural interactions: individual, functional, organizational and national levels
• Prejudice and stereotypes
• The stages of cultural adaptation
• Differences in perceptions and communication problems

3. Deciphering cultures

• How time and space are managed
• Reasoning styles, risk-taking and change management
• Social relationships with individuals and groups
• Importance attached to tasks and relationships
• Communication (implicit, explicit and non-verbal messages)
• Power distance, status and the acceptance of rules
• Expression of emotions in the workplace, conflict management

4. Analysing your cultural profile

• The individual profile

MODULE 2: OPTIMISING PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATIONS

1. Exploring your intercultural skills

• Identifying key cross-cultural skills
• Measuring the added value of cultural diversity
• Analysing one’s strengths and weaknesses
• Making progress by meeting personal challenges

2. Adapting your communication style to a cross-cultural situation

• Pinpointing the communication style of international colleagues and clients
• Understanding how verbal messages may be interpreted
• Analysing non-verbal communication: gestures, attitudes, eye contact, silence
• Writing in a clear, concise style
• Managing ambiguity by changing one’s frame of reference

3. Assisting international managers and associates

• Recruiting international candidates: from first interviews to welcoming the new associates - cross-cultural pitfalls to avoid
• Motivation: different ways to motivates depending on cultures
• Annual evaluation meetings and daily relationships with associates
• How to efficiently train international associates

4. Overcoming the challenges of long-distance communication

• The specifics of long-distance communication
• Assessing potential difficulties
• Identifying sources of influence
• Online meetings: preparation, facilitation and follow-up
• Getting the message across by telephone