Cross Cultural Communication
We can be unaware of the impact culture is having on our and others communication within a company and outside work. It is important to become aware of this and to have tools at your disposal to help you mitigate against any negative effects on communication and collaboration.
Communication is essential
Culture is a build-up of 4 basic layers with each one having a more fundamental effect on how we work with and see others within a global organisation.
- What people see the current fashion and trends
- Who we respect and look up to
- How we work, our beliefs and attitudes
- Our values and core rules
What can you expect?
The objectives
- Address global communication challenges
- Demonstrate tools for dealing with these challenges
- Provide hands on experiences with the tools being shown
- It will be an enjoyable and social experience via group exercises and self development exercises
- Shaped to match your own business needs
Course outline
We have used Gert Hofstede’s model of culture to provide a general view on culture and its effects on our communication both written verbal and physical (our body language). His 4 dimensions; Power Distance, Individuality, Uncertainty Avoidance and Masculinity help to provide a measure with which to interpret the effects of culture on us and the people we work with. The course is not off the self so the final content and focus is down to you and your businesses needs for the training experience.
More about Hofstede
Dr. Geert Hofstede conducted perhaps the most comprehensive study of how values in the workplace are influenced by culture. From 1967 to 1973, while working at IBM as a psychologist, he collected and analysed data from over 100,000 individuals from forty countries. From those results, and later additions, Hofstede developed a model that identifies four primary dimensions as above and their effect on global workers and managers. His results are a generalisation and should be used as such, having said this Geert Hofstede's dimensions can assist the business person or traveller in better understanding the intercultural differences within regions and between countries.
Final word
Today’s work force both Leaders and co workers face global challenges and are expected to work across cultural divides, with people that have different work and social; values and beliefs. This is a challenge and if tools are not available to help people work effectively, it can be a mine field. Global businesses must take time-out to help address this challenge, so that they can continue to build on their success and also nurture