Cultural Awareness

English is still considered the most important business language in the world today, but visit clients or prospects speaking English disregarding their local culture and language and the result may not be to your liking!

Mankind is on the threshold of a cultural convergence. With the technology now available we are communicating globally more and more but culture varies across nations and within nations and expectations are different. All staff members need to be aware of these differences if you wish your company to be as effective in dealing across cultural boundaries as it is on home ground. Mastering a language is only half the battle, shaking hands, blowing noses and making eye-to-eye contact can give different messages to people from different cultures. Meeting protocols, punctuality and socialising vary hugely between countries. Have your company representatives got it right? Does your multinational team communicate effectively?

SBC offers general in-company courses to suit all members of staff who have to deal with people from different cultures. These courses provide a general overview of different cultures enabling staff to start building an awareness of why nationalities behave differently. We also provide tailor-made courses usually for the executive and his family being posted abroad or for the executive with regional responsibility and the need to understand the different cultures involved.

Perhaps cultural coaching on a 1-2-1 basis would suit you better? We will help you work through the cultural and language concepts needed to focus your company or you individually on external markets. They usually start with an initial visit to your company followed by monthly or bi-monthly sessions on the phone together with 24/7 email back-up.