World Learning helps overcome barriers to
US-Asian business
World Learning for Business has been handling an increasing
number of requests from corporations on both sides of the Pacific for
help in improving their intercultural business transactions. As companies
like American Express, Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Sankyo, Brocade, and Continental
Tire march toward true globalization, they have an urgent need to equip
their business professionals with the skills they need to work more effectively
across cultural barriers.
For example, U.S. professionals working with Asians cite challenges such
as these:
- "Although they never actually say 'no', we find out later that
they definitely meant 'no'."
- "It's often hard to identify who has the actual responsibility
on a given issue."
- "Building trusting and collaborative relationships can be very
difficult."
- "It's hard to figure out how they make decisions and why it takes
so long to make them."
- "Getting them to participate actively in meetings or brainstorm-style
discussions is a real challenge."
- "In general, without greater understanding of their business
communication style, we frequently find that the behavior and words
used by Asian managers can create discomfort."
U.S. and Asian professionals participating in workshops from our Working
Effectively series have seen immediate benefits in improved communication
and productivity. The growing series now includes Working Effectively
with . . .
- Asians
- Americans
- Japanese
- Koreans
- Germans
- Chinese
- Indians
An agenda for Working Effectively with the Japanese serves as a sample:
- How do Japanese view us, and how do we view Japanese?
- What makes Japanese people think and act Japanese?
- Japanese business culture and practices:
- Project planning and implementation
- Meeting facilitation and participation
- Decision-making process
- Negotiation style
- How can we Americans work more effectively with the Japanese?
- Practicing appropriate social and business etiquette
- Making phone conversations, teleconferences and e-mails easier
for Japanese
- Using facilitation skills that help Japanese participate actively
in meetings and discussions
- Speaking and writing clear, international English
- Building personal trust and rapport as a prerequisite to negotiation
In addition to the workshop training, World Learning conducts assessments
and provides on-going support to ensure that workshop participants can
implement what they learned. World Learning for Business work with specific
teams, coach one-on-one or in small groups, and provide performance observation
and recommendation reports.
Back to top
|
