Cross-cultural Cooperation
Cross-cultural Behavioural Competency
Cross-cultural behavioural competency means being able to deal adequately from the cultural viewpoint with people belonging to another culture and on this basis establish effective cooperations.

This can only succeed in the long term if the significance of cultural and structural diversities, together with their impact on day-to-day contact, is recognised and behavioural strategies developed accordingly.

Enhancing the partners' behavioural patterns is therefore necessary since a number of problems in cross-cultural cooperation arise as a result of misunderstandings due to 'false' (read: culturally inadequate) perceptions, behaviour and methods of communication.

Interpersonal differences in perception, thinking and acting are equally as important in this context as differences and commonalities resulting from the varying structural and cultural environments of the individual partners. In order to reach an understanding of the interpersonal differences it is firstly essential to highlight, understand and compare the (often unconscious) cultural standards of the foreign partner as well as of one's own structural and cultural environment. On this basis cross-cultural interactive situations can then be correctly evaluated and culturally adequate strategies for behaviour, negotiations and conflict resolutions put into place.

A focus of China Consultancy's work is imparting cross-cultural behavioural competency in preparatory training programmes. (see: Cross-cultural Training & Competencies / China Consultancy's Services, Regions)

Cross-cultural Communication Competency
Having cross-cultural communication compentency means having the ability to correctly interpret the partner's communicative conduct (speech and behaviour) and develop one's own behavioural patterns to allow culturally adequate forms of verbal and non-verbal expression.

Recognising and interpreting different communicative and behavioural conduct ('messages') represents a key competency in cross-cultural cooperation. After all, communication is the basis of all forms of cross-cultural interaction and has a direct impact on reciprocal perception in behavioural, negotiating and conflict situations.

If, for example, English has been chosen as the common language for communication and business the partners' differently hallmarked cultural perception, thinking and behavioural patterns retain their immense influence on each side's form of communication. It cannot be presumed that a 'common language' also leads to a congruous evaluation of communication and behaviour. What is therefore necessary if intercultural cooperation is to be successful is a clear understanding of the importance the partners attach to verbal and non-verbal forms of communication.

A focus of China Consultancy's work is imparting cross-cultural communication competency in preparatory training programmes. (see: Cross-cultural Training and Competencies / China Consultancy's Services, Regions)

A further focus is the application of China Consultancy's cross-cultural competency with regard to consulting and coaching. (see: Competencies / China Consultancy's Services, Cross-cultural Coaching and Coaching Across Cultures)