Effective Cross-cultural Communication

Anyone working in a multicultural environment who wishes to gain a better understanding of cultural differences and improve its ability to communicate effectively

• Eligible for CPF*
• Create your Cultural Profile
• Access to 70 Country Packs
• Pragmatic, fun e-learning
• Interactive method
• Acquire operational tools

The objective of this seminar is to significantly improve participants’ ability to operate in a multicultural context. More specifically, the programme aims to prepare participants to cope with the difficulties and pitfalls inherent in cross-cultural interactions, in order to better communicate with people from other countries.

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

• Be aware of their own cultural baggage
• Decode different communication practices and styles
• Anticipate and prevent breakdowns in communication stemming from cultural differences
• Reduce sources of stress and misunderstandings
• Acquire practical tools to communicate successfully in an international environment

Module 1: Understanding cultural codes

1. Understanding how cultural differences may affect professional relationships

• Understanding different culturalbasis and value systems
• Avoiding stereotypes, understanding the dangers of sharing a common language
• Getting to know the different stages of cultural adaptation: from shock to synergy
• Valuating the different levels of integration between foreign cultures: individual, functional, organizational and national

2. Mapping : Pinpointing cultural differences

• Identifying everyone’s expectations and practices
• Optimizing your relationships with others
  • Understanding the importance of working and personal relationships
  • Implicit and explicit communication
  • Relationships between individual and group
• Coordinating working and decision making practices
  • Risk management
  • Time management
  • Power distance
• Understanding different ways of thinking and adapting your communication
  • Linear/circular way of thinking
  • Analysing facts/ having a broad perspective
  • Simple/complex approach
  • Convincing using facts/persuading
  • Analysing your cultural profile

3. Developing your cross-cultural communication skills

• Identifying key cross-cultural skills
• Analysing your own weak points

Module 2: Communicating efficiently in an international environment

1. Adapting one's communication in a cross-cultural context

• Identifying everyone’s expectations, finding the common objective
• Understanding the impact of verbal and non-verbal communication
• Identifying your interlocutors’ communication style
• Passing on a message and its intention in the appropriate style
• Getting sure your message is fully understood and won’t create misunderstandings
• Adopting a common language while using differentiated communication styles

2. Bridging : How to overcome the challenges of long-distance communication

• Identifying the characteristics of long-distance communication
• Estimating potential difficulties and setting up an efficient resolution tool
• Effective framework using the 4key instruments of long distance communication: preparation, purpose, process, people
• Making an efficient phone call: giving your call a structure, guiding your interlocutor, listening actively, using your voice better
• Writing clear mails/letters in an adequate style
• Carrying out successfully your videoconferences: preparing and leading a videoconference considering cross-cultural specifics
• Communicating in difficult situations

3. Integrating : Best practices

• Identifying  professional do’s and don’ts
• Making the most of cultural diversity
• Working out a plan of action