Cross-Cultural
Communications
The workshop provides a systematic approach to understanding cultural differences, explore host cultural profiles, as well as other cultures — family, school — that can influence an individual’s thinking and behavior.
Understand cultural differences.
International Schools present a challenging work environment for our Non-Academic staff, many which have never attended such a school nor interfaced with such a culturally diverse community. School management, leadership, and their respective teams rely extensively on their support staff to communicate effectively on behalf of the school and be the first point of contact for parents and teachers, especially when important decisions or difficult news needs to be communicated.
The program is drawn from research done by Hofstede and other leading researchers that for the past 60 years have identified distinct cultural attributes and strategies for communicating cross-culturally. The workshop provides a systematic approach to understanding cultural differences, explores national cultural profiles, as well as other cultures—family, school—that can influence an individual’s thinking and behavior. With this knowledge, employees can strengthen credibility, communication, relationships, and collaboration.
Participants will engage in practical activities and be given tools and role-play applicable to their daily jobs.
Target Audience
This workshop can be customized to have all school staff engage in productive discussions and role plays to develop their interpersonal communication skills, as well as develop a greater awareness for cross-cultural communication.
Workshop
Objectives
Become conscious of common barriers to communication;
Enhance Active Listening and Questioning Skills;
Communicate Assertively;
Understand the difference between High and Low Context Cultures;
Adjust communication for Cross-Cultural interactions;
Confidently facilitate a collaborative strategy for resolving conflicts.
Workshop Agenda
Workshops will commence at 8:30 am and aim to finish by 4:30 pm. There will be two 15-minute breaks each day and a 45-minute lunch break. The workshop modules will be:
Day 1 Morning
Key Communication Skills
Non-Verbal Communication
Active Listening and Asking the Right Questions
Assertive Communication
Day 1 Afternoon
Attributes of Cross-Cultural Communication
Perception and Understanding
High vs. Low Context Cultures
Tailoring Your Communication
Day 2
Resolving Conflict
Responding to Questions and Objections
Cultural Attributes Matrix: Power Distance & Collectivism
Using the Matrix to Identify Strategies for 5 Types of Conflict
This workshop is available for facilitation in English, Mandarin or Cantonese. All written materials will be in English to support the schools working language environment. The workshop’s capacity is limited to 30 participants (Exceptions can be made to include more).