INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

Training skills

Objectives • familiarise with different cultures in terms of

their relations to people, time and working environment

• improve knowledge about intercultural cooperation and business

• understand etiquette and business rules in various cultures

What is…

… CULTURE?

Culture …

… ranks what is important,

instills attitudes about what

things are appropriate and

prescribes behaviour.

Beamer’s & Varner Intercultural Communication in the Global Workplace

physical contact

work ethic

appearance

body language

language

table manners

meeting style

behaviour

personal space communication

assumptions about

existence

The judgment of what is right

is rooted in beliefs, values,

attitudes, as well as habit,

tradition and accepted norms.

Mole (1996)

Relationship with people

Attitude to the time

Attitude to the working environment

Universalism Particularism

Individualism Communitarianism

Neutral Emotional

Specific Diffuse

Achievement Ascription

Sequential Synchronic

12 12

Internal control External control

Going… …INTERCULTURAL

STEREO TYPES

Heaven is where:

The ________ are the chefs,

The ________ are the lovers,

The ________ are the police,

The ________ are the mechanics,

And the ________ make everything run on time.

French

Italians

British

Germans

Swiss

Hell is where:

The ________ are the chefs,

The ________ are the lovers,

The ________ are the police,

The ________ are the mechanics,

And the ________ make everything run on time.

British

Swiss

Germans

French

Italians

Silent… …MESSAGES

Words, 7%

Tone, 38%

Non-verbal,

55%

Grinning or smiling

in some cultures

could be interpreted

as being pushy.

Don’t do the OK sign; the

gesture means different

things in other cultures.

Nodding, to indicate

yes, is not universal.

Don’t point with

your finger, it may

be considered rude.

Be careful where you

point your feet, and

avoid pointing your toes

or soles at another.

Don’t point with

your finger, it may

be considered rude.

Cultural… …AWARENESS

UNCONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

CONSCIOUS INCOMPETENCE

CONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

UNCONSCIOUS COMPETENCE

I don’t know that I don’t know.

I know that I don’t know.

I know that I know.

I don’t know that I know.

When in Rome,

do as the Romans do.

Svetlana Belić Malinić

Svetlana.Belic.Malinic@consultant.com

Thank you !