Cross-cultural Intelligence

  1. •  Discover & understanding cultural diversity

  2. •  Theory & practical issues

  3. •  Prepare and organise business trips or meetings

  4. •  Implementing and follow-up


  5. Almost overnight the world has gotten smaller and bigger for cross-cultural leaders from the corporate and diplomatic worlds.  Smaller, because the world has become extensively networked through telecommunications and as a result, is surrounded with partners and dialoguers situated all over the world. But also bigger, because there are more significant business opportunities evolving beyond domestic boundaries than ever before.

  6. The first steps of the cross-cultural modules are to understand cultural diversity.  To discover and learn about the historical background will help you to understand the underlying  culture and traditions or religious aspects that may have an impact on everyday business life.  It is extremely important to appreciate these fundamental issues to avoid ethnocentrism occurring during future business and diplomatic relations. 


  7. Practical issues to take into consideration when organising business meetings

  8. The course will provide a detailed checklist of points to prepare, such as business cards, how to organise business meetings  when, where and with whom.  How to master the meeting protocol of seating arrangements, programme outline contents and procedures of the meetings.  How to prepare your strategy by doing the required research work about your adversary who will be involved in the meetings and how to familiarise yourself with the local business customs.

  9. There is special attention brought to preparing the appropriate clothes attire, which sort of gifts to purchase and for whom.  Dinner protocol (table seating) and table etiquette are extremely important to master and be familiar with especially when travelling  in Asia and the Middle East.  Ignorance or unconscious mistakes could be fatal to your credibility and to future negotiations. 


  10. Understanding cultural diversity

  11. Recorded videos focusing on body language, voice modulation and voice intonation during presentations or discussions will help to visualise the bad signals that you may be sending out. The feedback is essential to become consciously aware of bad habits and as a result as “practice makes perfect”, you will be thoroughly prepared before moving onto the real scene.  You only get one chance to make a first good impression so we encourage prior to the date, to prepare role plays on how to master negotiation tactics with the different culture you will be confronted with.  It will help you to avoid losing face in front of your real adversary.