Understanding the values, habits, and behaviors characteristic of different cultures
Identifying typical mistakes and communication barriers in an international environment
Defining which behaviors help build mutual understanding despite differences
Understanding the principles of cooperation in multicultural teams – how to build relationships, run meetings, negotiate, and respond to emotions
Understanding nuances in written communication and ways to minimize the risk of misunderstandings
Developing the ability to adapt one’s communication style to interlocutors from other cultures – how to better understand the other side when communication styles differ
Improving skills in conflict resolution and overcoming communication barriers
Section 1: What collaboration in an international environment means
Values, behaviors, and attitudes in different cultures – a practical case study
Stereotypes and their impact on communication barriers in an international context
Which cultural elements are easier to understand and reach agreement on, and which require more effort
What to do when approaches to communication differ (direct vs. indirect) and when work styles are different
Section 2: The Impact of culture on business collaboration
How national and regional culture influences business behavior – which behaviors can be easily “standardized” and which are deeply rooted
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Hierarchy
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Collaboration vs. individualism
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Approach to time
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Approach to change
Values and customs and their significance depending on culture
Section 3: Specific characteristics of different cultures
Cultural behavior specifics based on the cultures participants most often work with in their organization
Direct and indirect communication – how the same message can be understood differently depending on culture
What to do when work styles differ – different approaches to planning, punctuality, decision-making, and the role of leaders and specialists
How to respond to silence, disagreement, or lack of response – interpreting communication behaviors across cultures
Approaches to assertiveness and feedback – what, if anything, is similar between Poland and other cultures
Negotiations – differences in negotiation styles and how to avoid misunderstandings resulting from different ways of arguing, approaching compromise, and expressing disagreement
Section 4: Finding the golden mean in cooperation with employees from selected nationalities
What may be challenging in communication: hierarchy, approach to work, indirect communication, responses to difficult questions – how it looks in Poland vs. selected cultures
Practical tips based on the nationalities participants work with or will work with
Case analysis: real intercultural situations from participants’ organizations – identifying mistakes, reinterpreting situations, and planning alternative responses
“Cultural Compass” – a map of the most common differences and similarities between the cultures participants collaborate with
