Cross cultural awareness
• What is cultural awareness?
• Basics of culture and cultural difference
• Developing a global mindset
• Cross cultural barriers
• Cultural differences (e.g. North America, Asian (Vietnamese), European (French, English)
Explicit and Implicit Cultural factors
• Explicit culture – Understanding key behavioral factors that distinguish different cultures:
– Dress
– Punctuality
– Social etiquette
– Making friends
– Communication styles
– Role of men/women
– Topics of conversations
– Gift giving
• Implicit culture – attitudes and values
– How do we develop human relationships?
– How do we view time?
– How do we communicate with each other?
Cross cultural communication
• Understanding your cultural communication style and other people’s style
• Differences in verbal and non verbal behaviors
– Gesturing
– Touching
– Space
– Eye contact
• High and low cultural contexts
• Adapting your communicative/behavioral styles
• Listening and responding to people from other cultures
• Communicating with coworkers/senior managers
• Communicating with Westerners – techniques for using a more direct style of communication
• Techniques for communicating effectively with Vietnamese people
Developing Business and Building Relationships
• Working together across cultures and building relationships
• Understanding conflicting business behaviors – Western vs. Asian
• Business protocol tips for Vietnam and Western countries:
– Meeting and greeting
– Conducting meetings
– Presentation styles
– Entertaining – dining/ drinking
– Business attire
– Networking
– Time-punctuality
– Dealing with problems/ difficulties
– Taboos / Etiquettes / Manners
• Tips and strategies for specific countries
Cultural style – self assessment
Complete your own assessment to:
• Determine your global position
• Identify how you relate to your target culture(s)
• Understand which areas to improve in to become more culturally
