Communication Skills for Cross-Cultural Business

Introduction

We live in a multi cultural society and communicate with different nationalities everyday. This can sometimes lead to miscommunication and awkward situations. This course will help you to understand the way that you communicate, as well as understand other peoples’ communication styles and differences.

Objectives

Upon completion of this workshop, participants will be learn to:

• Develop the ability to present and structure information - both spoken and written - in a clear and logical manner
• Acquire the ability to present differing points of view in non-confrontational ways
• Understand and practice the skills of questioning positively and listening actively
• Appreciate that interpreting communication with accuracy is based on understanding where are you coming from?

Target Audience

Managers, Executives and all those that work in multicultural teams.

Curriculum

1.  Creating the Context for the Programme

• Learning Needs
• Course Objectives
• Conscious Awareness

2. Understanding Yourself and Your Communication Style

• Through a communication analysis questionnaire, the participants will discover:
  - Individual personality profiles
  - The different types of communication styles
  - Their communication style
  - How to adapt communication styles to suit different people and cultures

• Discussion and activity on what forms personal culture in Singapore

4. Understanding Other Cultures

• A discussion on observable and non-observable behaviours in other cultures
  - Mono and Poly chronic cultures
  - Low context and High context cultures
  - Norms, values and basic assumptions
  - Empathy versus ethnocentrism

5. Communication Across Generations

• A discussion, video and activity to create awareness on:
  - Who are they?
  - What do they want?
  - Rapport building by maintaining esteem and empathy

6. Communication Barriers

• Through a discussion, the participants will understand how to plan well to overcome communication barriers that could occur in:
  - The organisation of message
  - The channel
  - The lack of feedback
  - Causes for barriers
  - Solutions to those barriers

7. Influencing Others

• We will explore some tried and tested ways through which many have benefited from mutually rewarding concurrences.
  - Reciprocation 
  - Commitment
  - Consistency

8. Successful Conversations across Cultures

• The discussion and activities with be on:
  - Deep Listening Skills
  - Questioning skills vs. the Interrogation effect
  - Trust and Respect
  - Assertiveness – the difference between aggression, submission and assertiveness
  - The art of story telling