„Only those who know others and themselves well…“
Whatever your personal situation, you will certainly know there are moments in which tensions or conflicts occur and your expectations are not met.
Perhaps you have begun to acquire knowledge of your counterparts’ cultural backgrounds in order to better understand and assess their behaviours.
This way, you are already fulfilling the first important part of the proverb above.
„…will be successful in 1000 encounters.“
If you wish to develop real mutual understanding and place your co-operation on a sound footing, you will primarily need the second part of the proverb: an understanding of one’s own culture.
What values, standards and rules of behaviour determine perception and actions within your own society? These elements form a culture-specific orientation system that you follow – unconsciously – when you assess other people’s behaviour. On the other hand, cultural self-awareness also means knowing what effect your own culture-specific behaviour may produce when dealing with international partners.
Consequently, intercultural communication will succeed particularly well in cases where individuals understand their own perception and their own actions while at the same time respecting and appreciating that their international partner may act on the basis of a different orientation system.
How well do you know yourself and your cultural orientation system?
I will be happy to accompany and support you with consulting and training in analysing and developing your intercultural communication style further:
- Intercultural training “New in Germany”
- Intercultural training for international co-operation
- Intercultural training for international executives
Interview with Kerstin Brandes – ‚Driving Success Through Trust in International Sales’
For her podcast ‘Clever2gether’ Corinne Wilhelm interviewed me about international cooperation and intercultural communication. She was curious to hear about my years of experience in international sales. Listen to the interview here:
