Cross-cultural Training
Objectives
The objectives of international and cross-cultural preparatory trainings conducted by China Consultancy are to enhance practical cross-cultural behavioural and communication compentencies.

Methods I
To achieve these objectives we will convey cognitive elements, draw on learnings gained from practical exercises during our workshops and use reflections of individual real-life experience (seminar and workshop aspects).

- The Seminar Aspect -
The participants are provided with analytical tools to enable them to understand and possibly anticipate their partner's special cultural perceptions, which deviate from their own cultural standards, as well as their ways of thinking and behaviour. On this basis behavioural and communication strategies are developed for dealing with partners from different cultures.

- The Workshop Aspect -
The cognitive tools presented are made experienceable and reinforced by practical exercises which the participants work on during the trainings, so that it becomes ingrained on the emotional level. Applied forms of instruction and learning include ...

critical incidents
case studies
role plays
identity work

group activities
discussions
open question time
reflections

Methods II
Seminar- and workshop aspects can be put into practice by a single trainer as well as by a bicultural team of trainers. China Consultancy will consult you in this regard and design the best options catering to your current needs.

Contents
China Consultancy conducts international and systemic cross-cultural trainings on specific countries and regions as well as workshops on cultural awareness, self-awareness and diversity:

- Kooperation with specific Countries and Regions -
International and systemic cross-cultural trainings on specific countries and regions conducted by China Consultancy provide both in-depth support for working and living in the target region and for cooperating on a long-distance basis (see: Competencies / Regions) .

The aim of the respectively chosen subject modules is to understand and anticipate the way of thinking and the behaviour of other cultures and expand one's own behavioural patterns. This occurs by communicating and finding similarities and differences with regard to the cultural, systemic-structural and the individual level as well as in the realm of constellations of interests.

- Cultural Awareness, Self-Awareness and Diversity -
The China Consultancy workshops on cultural awareness, self-awareness and diversity highten sensitivity and awareness regarding contacts and cooperation with partners from different cultural backgrounds and simultaneously address inter-individual differences and similarities.

Experiencing, understanding and accepting cultural differences presuppose "the self" as a point of reference. Therefore, departing from different perceptions of "one's self" and "others", the participants' own cultural and individual factors and patterns of orientation are elaborated. The often unconscious influence of these factors on daily behaviour and underlying value systems are explored.

On this basis comparisons are drawn between one's own cultural standards and those of people of different cultural coining. Strategies for dealing with cultural and individual differences are elaborated.

Cultural awareness, self-awareness and diversity-workshops conducted by China Consultancy do not prepare for a specific foreign culture. Their focus is on the participants' awareness of their own ways of dealing with "otherness" and their personal strategies for coping with cultural and individual differnces. This aim is taken into account by a relatively high portion of interactive exercises and simulations during the workshops.

Hereby, the participants are instructed to take a deeper look at their own as well as at other people's and cultures' patterns of, e.g., thinking, communication and behavior.

Focus
The format and contents of China Consultancy's trainings depend on the customer's specific objectives. Trainings are conducted to prepare for ...

long-term assignments abroad ("expatriates")
selective business trips to the target culture
long-distance management challenges
contact with foreign partners in one's native
or other countries.

Standard as well as customised trainings are offered. Customized trainings can include cross-cultural preparatory trainings as well as synchronuous and follow-up workshops as much as coaching by China Consultancy (see: Cross-cultural Coaching / Training*plus) . All of these are offered in the target region as well as in one's own country.

- Standard Trainings -
'Standard' international and cross-cultural preparatory trainings deal with the most important of the above-mentioned topics. They prepare participants for an assignment in China (Germany) or South East Asia (Northwest Europe and North America) and focus on enhancing their business skills and general behavioural and communication competencies in the target culture. (see: Competencies / Regions)

- Customised Trainings -
For customised trainings subject modules are arranged in accordance with the customer's objectives and tailored to the needs of the individual group of participants. Basic modules are recommended and on this basis the specifically required subject matter is presented. Advice is given by China Consultancy with regard to putting these modules together.

- Synchronized Workshops and Coachings -
A number of specific intercultural questions and problems do not arise until the participants experience actual interaction in the target region or in contact with partners from the foreign culture in their own country.

On-the-spot as well as follow-up workshops and coaching by China Consultancy embrace these experiences, clarify unanswered questions and put the situations experienced into a wider context. Alternative approaches are shown which expand the participants' behavioural patterns with regard to future situations and augment their intercultural cooperation competency (see: Cross-cultural Coaching / On-the-spot Coaching and Coaching Across Cultures) .

Training Languages
China Consultancy's cooperation trainings are offered in German, English and Mandarin Chinese. Multilingual trainings are possible and beneficial, depending on the language skills of the group of participants.

Participants
China Consultancy's trainings are aimed at members of management as well as skilled personnel. This applies to all hierarchical levels. If it is to be a long-term assignment in the target region it is strongly recommended that family members be included in the seminars if they are to accompany their partner. Preparation for spouses and families is also offered.

Management, specialists and executive staff
Project managers & parent company staff
Members of technical professions
Family and partner trainings

Duration of Trainings
Ideally a 2,5-day workshop is recommended for a country-specific cooperation training. It depends however on the customer's individual needs and can last one or also three days. Workshops on cultural awareness, self-awareness and diversity usually take two days. For subject modules specifically requested this timeframe can vary. China Consultancy will advise you on the recommended duration of the training | workshop.

Form of Trainings
China Consultancy focuses on in-house trainings. This ensures that the trainings fulfil the customer's specific wishes and meet the participants' needs in the best possible way.