| "...the single greatest barrier to business success is | | | | only expresses but also determines the way we |
| the one erected by culture." | | | | think! |
| Edward T. Hall and Mildred Reed Hall | | | | Learning a new language broadens our horizons, builds |
| Today, more than ever business is conducted in | | | | and strengthens relationships while allowing us to take |
| some kind of multicultural environment - at the office | | | | advantage of new opportunities. |
| or with customers and colleagues abroad. Many | | | | In view of the subtle yet powerful impact of |
| companies, however, do not offer their personnel | | | | culturally conditioned behavior on international business |
| the necessary training to succeed in the global | | | | transactions, intercultural competence is now |
| marketplace. Misunderstandings and poor | | | | recognized as a critical element to succeeding on the |
| communication are the result. Furthermore, | | | | global stage. Intercultural or cross-cultural trainings |
| employees are unable to manage cultural differences, | | | | combine a company's business skills with the |
| expatriates suffer from culture shock thus negatively | | | | necessary people skills. They provide management |
| impacting the company's productivity and foreign | | | | and staff with the knowledge and tools to develop |
| assignments end prematurely. All the above translate | | | | general and specific intercultural skills in order to work |
| into major costs and losses to companies. | | | | more effectively with international clients or |
| In fact, the main reason for failure in international | | | | colleagues. Employees having received formalized |
| business is not the lack of technical expertise or | | | | cross-cultural training are more effective in leadership |
| good will, but rather cultural illiteracy and the lack of | | | | roles, are good communicators and valuable company |
| people skills. | | | | ambassadors. Incidents of culture shock are reduced |
| Knowledge of a foreign language is a key element in | | | | and the premature return rate for expatriates drops |
| communicating across cultures. It not only promotes | | | | dramatically. |
| understanding and mutual respect by allowing for | | | | For a company, cross-cultural training is an investment |
| dialogue in another's tongue but also gives an insight | | | | that pays, yielding the benefits of increased |
| into foreign cultures and different ways of thinking. In | | | | productivity, successful business relationships, and the |
| fact it is believed that the language we speak not | | | | avoidance of costly misunderstandings. |