Welcome to WM8C's Team Building Guide
Free Team Building Idea Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Cross Cultural Solutions for International Business
from: Neil PayneGlobalisation, the expansion of intercontinental trade, technological advances and the increase in the number of companies dealing on the international stage have brought about a dramatic change in the frequency, context and means by which people from different cultural backgrounds interact.
Cross cultural solutions to international business demands are increasingly being viewed as a valid and necessary method in enhancing communication and interaction in and between companies, between companies and customers and between colleagues.
Cross cultural consultancies are involved in aiding companies to find solutions to the challenges cross cultural differences carry.
International and national businesses are ultimately the result of people. As with incompatible software, if people are running on different cultural coding, problems can occur. Cross cultural consultancies therefore concentrate their efforts on interpersonal communication.
Different cultures and cultural backgrounds between a highly diverse staff base brings with it obstacles, challenges and difficulties. Cross cultural differences manifest in general areas such as in behaviour, etiquette, norms, values, expressions, group mechanics and non-verbal communication. These cross cultural differences then follow on through to high level areas such as management styles, corporate culture, marketing, HR and PR.
In order to overcome potential pitfalls, specialist attention is required in the form of a cross cultural consultant. As one would approach a doctor for a medical diagnosis or an accountant to examine finances, cross cultural consultants offer the expertise, experience and know-how to diagnose problems and provide solutions to interpersonal cultural differences.
Within companies there are many facets in which cultural differences manifest. Some key areas which cross cultural consultants deal with include, but are not exclusive to, the following:
Cross Cultural HR: HR covers a wide range of business critical areas that need cross cultural analysis. Consultants may offer advice on a number of areas including recruitment, relocation, international assignments, staff retention and training programmes.
Cross Cultural Team-Building: in order to have a well functioning business unit within a company, communication is critical. Cross cultural consultants will provide tools and methods to promote staff integration, reduce cross cultural conflicts and build team spirit. This is essentially done through highlighting differences and building on strengths to ensure they are used positively.
Cross Cultural Synergy: international mergers, acquisitions and joint-ventures require people from different cultural backgrounds to harmonise in order to succeed. Cross cultural consultants counsel on group mechanics, communication styles, norms, values and integration processes.
Cross Cultural Awareness Training: working with colleagues, customers or clients from different cultural backgrounds, with different religions, values and etiquettes can occasionally lead to problems. Cross cultural awareness training is usually a generic introduction into a culture, country, region or religion. The aim is to equip the trainee with the adequate knowledge to deal comfortably with people from different cultures, avoiding misunderstandings and mistakes.
Cross Cultural Training for Expatriate Relocation: staff that travel overseas need to understand the cultural basics of the host country or region. Knowledge of the country’s history, culture, laws, traditions, business practices and social etiquettes all help to minimise the impact of culture shock and hence smooth their transition overseas.
Cross Cultural Negotiations: equipped with their knowledge of the two or more cultures that can be meeting around the negotiation table, a cross cultural consultant advises on areas such as negotiation strategies, styles, planning, closure and etiquette in order to increase the chance of a successful outcome, free from misunderstandings, suspicions and general cross cultural communication breakdown.
Cross Cultural PR Consultancy: brand image, public relations and advertising are all areas companies must be careful of when moving out of the national context. Tastes and values change dramatically from continent to continent. It is crucial to understand whether the brand name, image or advertising campaign is culturally applicable in the target country. Cross cultural consultants examine words, images, pictures, colours and symbols to ensure they fit well with the target culture.
Cross Cultural Language Training: Language training is an area where little investment is made by companies, but where the business advantages are great. Linguistic knowledge goes a long way in bridging cultural gaps and smoothing lines of communication. Cross cultural consultancies provide language training to business staff, moulding their learning to the business environment in which they work.
In conclusion, clearly the role and expertise of cross cultural communication consultants is important for today’s international business. The potential pitfalls cross cultural differences present to companies are extensive. In essence a cross cultural consultant’s primary objective is integration. This integration, between colleagues, clients and customers is crucial for business success. Equipped with experience, knowledge and above all objectivity, a cross cultural consultant creates bridges of understanding and opens lines of communication.
For more information on cross cultural training please visit http://www.kwintessential.co.uk
Neil Payne is Director of London based cross cultural communications consultancy, Kwintessential.
Free Team Building Idea News
2012 Free Agency: The 10 Smartest Free Agent Signings in History - Bleacher Report
 Bleacher Report | 2012 Free Agency: The 10 Smartest Free Agent Signings in History Bleacher Report The reputation of free agency as a team-building tool has taken a hit in recent years. With the most successful teams building through the draft, teams that spend wildly in free agency appear foolish and wasteful. Still, free agency can be the fastest ... |
Building The Tennis Team - World Tennis Magazine
 World Tennis Magazine | Building The Tennis Team World Tennis Magazine The exclusive book excerpt is found below in the chapter called “BUILDING THE TEAM) This is might be the most important chapter of this book. Many people get into a sport for the following reasons: Exercise, Camaraderie, Competition, Fun period. |
Raptors Vs. Wizards: Washington Tries To Rebound From Ugly Losses - SB Nation DC
 Bleacher Report | Raptors Vs. Wizards: Washington Tries To Rebound From Ugly Losses SB Nation DC He missed the and-one free-throw but Washington was there to grab a long rebound. Jordan Crawford was immediately fouled and made only one of two to give the Wizards a 105-103 lead with 17 seconds left. The Wizards missed 11 free throws. LeBron James vs. Dwyane Wade: Who Should the Miami Heat Build a Team Around? |
Harvard's New i-lab Will House New Crop of Future Zuckerbergs - Triple Pundit
Harvard's New i-lab Will House New Crop of Future Zuckerbergs Triple Pundit Harvard is hoping to nurture the culture of innovation in campus through a new innovation lab (i-lab), aiming to foster team-based and entrepreneurial activities and deepen interactions among Harvard students, faculty and entrepreneurs. |
9 Free Tools For Link Discovery & Content Creation - Search Engine Land
 Search Engine Land | 9 Free Tools For Link Discovery & Content Creation Search Engine Land Many of these are free or offer free trials, which I love, but finding the time to test out a new tool in order to see if it suits you isn't always easy. My objective in using these tools is, of course, building links, so I'll go over the tools that I ... |
Wake-up: Ravens on building up offense - ESPN (blog)
Wake-up: Ravens on building up offense ESPN (blog) By Jamison Hensley Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he wants to keep improving his team's offense but not at the expense of his traditionally tough defense. “We want to have a better offense, but if you flip the switch too quick, then you're giving up ... |
Employees make their own apps - San Francisco Chronicle
Employees make their own apps San Francisco Chronicle "Both our own team and our users are amazed at how we can get value so quickly." A growing number of workers, even those without technical expertise, are building mobile apps for use on the job, a democratization of technology creation spurred by the ... |