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Communication Services

Best Practices

At 1001s.com, our cross-cultural training program provides the elements needed to succeed in an international business environment.

1. Use clearly defined training objectives.

Experience has taught us that outcomes can only be met if the objectives are understood in advance, it is vital for success to take into consideration what can realistically be accomplished in the allotted timeframe.

2. Approach training holistically.

Our cross-cultural training meets three levels: the cognitive level (knowledge about the target country's politics, history, economy and society), the behavioral level (successful communication strategies and behavioral patterns) and the emotional level (strategies to cope with your own and others' stressful cross-cultural situations).

3. Be specific.

When it comes to cross-cultural training, details matter. We focus on the precise particularities of both your industry and your target country.

4. Make the instruction come alive.

We believe training should be very interactive. By using training modules, behavioral situations, case studies, and role-playing scenarios, the information is engaging and thus, memorable.

5. Empower participants to learn more.

Our seminars always provide additional information for self-directed learning; books, literature, videos or Internet links.

White Paper

What are intercultural competencies and why are they important?

It's hard to find a corner of the globe where McDonald's, Microsoft and Coca-Cola are not recognizable brands. If your company is considering expanding outside of the United States, you could learn a few valuable lessons from these firms.

Any corporation that has successfully penetrated other markets realizes the benefits of understanding and addressing the unique differences of each market. This means translating your signage, marketing materials and documents into another language. Even more important and often overlooked, is the ability for your managers to walk into a new country possessing the intercultural competencies necessary to establish strong working relationships with subordinates, business associates and clients.

The brief definition of intercultural competencies is simply the skills and attributes professionals need to succeed in an international environment. What may seem like a simple concept is really quite complex and addresses much more than just knowing how to dress or how to exchange a business card.

So what is the solution?

Individualized training tailored to helping your executives excel in a particular market increases the ability to reach business goals across cultures. A conceptual training plan focusing on the development of intercultural competence should include the following components:

The cognitive aspects, such as cross-cultural awareness or mindfulness, knowledge of cross-cultural fundamentals and tools and specific country or region specific know-how.

Specific behavioral skills, which include cross-cultural communication or behavior necessary to build trusting and sustainable relationships.

Emotional intelligence This can be seen as a vehicle to manage a relationship in a more effective and culturally sensitive way. EI also helps individuals manage personal transformation and stress aspects, which are essential for working or interacting in a culturally diverse environment.

Culture has often been defined using the iceberg analogy; there's much more to it than meets the eye. The surface culture is easy to see - dress, etiquette, manners and laws. Just as there's more to an iceberg than what is immediately visible, the deep cultural issues - values, attitudes, accepted ways of behavior, thought patterns, etc. - are somewhat hidden. These hidden elements are an essential ingredient to fully comprehending the mindset of the market.

The following questions can help you decide your need for intercultural competencies:

  1. Are you familiar with cross-cultural aspects of doing business abroad?
  2. Are you aware of your own and others cultural values and how they might impact cross-cultural interaction(s)?
  3. Do you have proven international leadership skills?
  4. Are you able to adjust your negotiation, communication, presentation, and team leading style etc. to avoid cross-cultural misunderstandings?
  5. Are you attentive to non-verbal cues in intercultural interactions?

Methodology

Our success is based on over 20 years of experience and is based on our methodology, which follows five main principles:

  • A holistic and comprehensive approach designed to meet our customers' business goals — from developing global competencies for team members to helping companies to address global development concerns, 1001s.com can provide effective solutions to its clients.  1001s.com aims to contribute to the Global Fluency© of your business as a whole.
  • Adaptable and flexible – a methodology that is the accumulation of 1001s.com's experience and best practices. It has evolved and matured over the years, and provides a framework which can be easily adapted and customized to your business.
  • Emphasizes quality, innovation and cutting-edge training methodologies. We assess your needs and customize training programs based on your company's objectives.  Our trainers are selected on the basis of native fluency, current cultural knowledge, teaching and training experience and the professionalism required for a corporate training environment.
  • Accelerate your global success. Our methodology bridges the gaps between language and cultural barriers — our programs help businesses and professionals to acquire confidence and a global skill set to function effectively at home and abroad.
  • Leads to lower cost and risk in the long term. Preparing your company and employees culturally and linguistically reduces your risk of business failure.  When you understand your business partners' country and customs, communication in smoother, negotiations are easier and relationships are stronger, thus increasing your ROI.