Module 1 : Successful personal integration in the Republic of Congo

1. Cross-cultural awareness : the key to a successful expatriation

• Taking stock of one's own cultural baggage
• Culture shock and the integration process
• Identifying and going beyond cultural stereotypes

2. Key aspects of Congolese culture

• A Western sub-Saharan state with a distinctive tropical climate
• An ancient civilization. Heirs to an impressive empire
• Colonization, AEF (French Equatorial Africa), coups d'état and civil wars
• A young, urban, multi-ethnic and multilingual population
• Enviable resources, though not fully exploited due to poor management

3. Congolese values and behaviour patterns

• The importance attached to tribal origins and clan membership
• The importance of family life and identification with the community
• A respect for age and status
• A class-based society
• Religion, superstition and mystical beliefs
• A flexible vision of time, hazards and unexpected events
• A strong attachment to the natural environment

4. Practical day-to-day information

• Focus on the host town
• Transport, administration, housing, security, hygiene and healthcare
• Social life, leisure activities
• Schools, extracurricular activities, sport

Module 2 : Successful professional integration in Congo Brazzaville

1. The Congolese corporate world

• A paternalistic corporate structure
• Major differences in management styles between small businesses and international groups
• Privileges and favoritism: corruption and political influence

2. Effective communication with the Congolese

• Greetings, politeness and interpersonal skills
• The importance and meanings of non-verbal communication
• Identifying and understanding implicit communication
• The French language and dialects used in business

3. Working with Congolese teams

• Effective management: experience, education and leadership
• Building trust and confidence: supervising, advising and encouraging
• Encouraging initiatives in order to promote feedback
• Striking the right balance between proximity and distance

4. Successful meetings and negotiations with the Congolese

• Giving relationships that personal touch: meeting decision-makers
• Proposing, adapting and persevering
• Forging long-term relationships
• Written contracts, their interpretation and implications

5. Final handy tips

• Caution, patience and humility
• Social standards, gifts, business cards, dress code
• Sensitive subjects: politics, history, religion
• Humour: a double-edged sword