Cross-cultural Team Management

DAY 1

On the first day of the course, participants will explore essential concepts of cultural competence and emotional intelligence. This day aims to help future leaders understand how culture influences their behaviour, communication, and decision-making. Participants will discuss the importance of cultural competence for effective collaboration and recognize how personal biases affect their  interactions with others. Utilizing self-assessment tools and practical techniques, attendees will analyse their cultural backgrounds and biases, setting the stage for personal development in cross-cultural leadership.

1. CASE STUDY #1 – “Understanding Self in Cross-Cultural Collaboration”

2. Understanding Cultural Competence

• Defining cultural competence and its importance in team dynamics
• How culture impacts behaviour — influencing both personal actions and perceptions of others
• Examining the significance of cultural competence in fostering effective interactions

3. Role of Emotional Intelligence

• Assessing emotional intelligence and its application in cross-cultural management.
• Techniques for improving emotional intelligence to enhance interpersonal interactions

4. Cultural Bias and Assumptions

• Common cultural biases and their implications in global teams
• Techniques for analysing personal culture and bias to understand their effects on decision-making
• Strategies for overcoming biases to build inclusive environments

5. Tools for Self-Assessment

• Self-assessment tools to evaluate individual performance within the context of corporate and national cultures (DISC assessment, Culture Map Self-Assessment)
• Setting personal development goals for becoming a culturally effective leader

DAY 2

The second day will begin by exploring the components that define team culture and the differences between organizational and national cultures, helping participants recognize how these factors influence team dynamics. Attendees will engage with tools to assess team dynamics, identify cultural gaps, and understand group behaviours that affect collaboration. The discussion will then address how cultural dimensions shape business practices and decision-making, empowering leaders to recognize the influence of societal norms on strategic leadership. Finally, participants will learn strategies for creating inclusive team environments that promote respect and integration of diverse perspectives.

6. CASE STUDY #2 – “Enhancing Collaboration through Cultural Understanding”

7. Defining Team Culture

• Exploring components of team culture and its impact on collaboration
• Differentiating between organizational and national cultures
• Components of the team’s culture

8. Assessing and Analysing Team Dynamics

• Understanding group behaviours and interpersonal relationships
• Tools for analysing team culture and team dynamics
• Identifying team’s cultural gaps
• Mapping the team culture and team’s biases

9. Cultural Influence on Business Practices

• How cultural dimensions affect operations and decision-making
• Analysing the impact of norms on strategic leadership

10. Creating Culturally Inclusive Team Environment

• Strategies for promoting inclusivity and respect within diverse teams
• Tools for leveraging cultural differences for team success
• Creating team’s culture

DAY 3

On the third day of the course, participants will focus on practical strategies for navigating cultural differences within diverse teams. This day will equip future leaders with skills to adapt to various cultural contexts and foster agility in their interactions. Participants will learn best practices for effective communication, including non-verbal cues and employing persuasive techniques. The course will also cover conflict resolution strategies and provide constructive feedback sensitively. Additionally, attendees will explore decision-making processes across cultures, including managing scheduling and differing perceptions of time. The day will conclude with techniques for building trust in multicultural teams, fostering collaboration and positive team dynamics.

11. CASE STUDY #3 – “Navigating Cultural Diversity in Global Projects”

12. Techniques for Effective Cross-Cultural Communication

• Best practices for improving clarity and reducing communication barriers.
• Understanding non-verbal cues and their significance across cultures.
• Techniques for effective persuasion and motivation in multicultural environments.

13. Conflict Resolution in Diverse Teams

• Strategies for managing and resolving conflicts arising from cultural misunderstandings.
• Providing negative feedback and disagree productively across cultures

14. Decision-Making Across Cultures

• Navigating decision-making processes in diverse teams and understanding varying cultural approaches.
• Managing scheduling and the different perceptions of time across cultures.

15. Creating Trust across Cultures

• Approaches to fostering trust and collaboration among multicultural team members.
• Engaging in active listening and empathetic communication in a multicultural world.

DAY 4

The fourth day of the course, will begin with an exploration of the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural components of CQ, emphasizing its significance in cross-cultural management. Participants will examine key cultural frameworks, to understand how different cultural orientations impact management styles and team effectiveness. They will also learn about the implications of cultural values on communication, decision-making, and conflict resolution, equipping them with strategies to adapt their communication approaches in diverse settings. The day’s focus will also include cultural adaptation strategies, particularly regarding the challenges faced by expatriates in managing cross-cultural teams.

16. CASE STUDY #4 – “Navigating Cultural Adaptation Strategies”

17. Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and key cultural frameworks

• Cognitive, emotional, and behavioural components of CQ
• The impact of cultural values on behaviour, communication, and management styles.
• Overview of key cultural frameworks

18. Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

• Overview of Hofstede’s model and its relevance to cross-cultural management.
• Individualism vs. Collectivism, Power Distance, Uncertainty Avoidance
• Impact of cultural dimensions on workplace behaviour and teamwork.

19. Trompenaars’ Model of National Culture

• Exploring Trompenaars’ model and its application in understanding cultural differences.
• Universalism vs. Particularism, Achievement vs. Ascription
• Cultural orientations and their effects on management styles.

20. Cultural Adaptation Strategies

• Methods to adapt to different cultural contexts in the workplace – the expat dilemma
• Developing cultural agility and flexibility in interactions.

DAY 5

The final day will begin with an analysis of various leadership styles and their effectiveness in different cultural environments. Participants will learn how to adapt their leadership approaches to align with cultural expectations, enhancing their ability to motivate diverse groups. The course will also explore the relationship between corporate values, leadership styles, and team culture. Participants will gain insights into how organizational values influence leadership behaviors and team dynamics, assessing their impact on performance through cultural dimensions. Finally, the day will address virtual team management, emphasizing best practices for coordinating geographically dispersed teams.

21. CASE STUDY #5 – “Navigating Virtual Team Management Challenges”

22. Examination of Leadership Styles Across Cultures

• Analysis of various leadership styles and their effectiveness in different cultural settings.
• Transformational Leadership and collectivist cultures.
• Transactional Leadership and hierarchical settings.
• Servant Leadership and community-focused cultures.
• Adapting leadership styles to align with the cultural expectations of team members

23. Corporate values, leadership style and team culture

• The link between organizational values, culture and leadership style.
• Effect of organizational values and culture on leadership style and on team dynamics.
• Assessing impact of organizational values, culture and leadership style on team performance
• Measuring leadership through cultural dimension

24. Virtual Team Management as cultural factor

• Building and coordinating culturally diverse and geographically dispersed teams
• Building trust in virtual settings
• Effective virtual communication strategies
• Cultural awareness in virtual teams
• Cultural Etiquette in Virtual Communication