Intercultural Training on Brazil
Cross-cultural trainers:Sudeepta, Hans, Arpan Jain, Siddharth Malani, Shane, Sarah
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
Ten minutes later
• “mañana” attitude -> “patience - it will be settled”• strong present-orientedness• short-term planning• punctuality is relative• polychronic time management• improvisational talent – doing instead of planning• time as unforeseeable factor
interruptions and postponements of meetings are normal
Understanding of time
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
Approximately 80% nonverbal communication via gestures, mimics, noises, distance/touch, silence
Communication I
Full Not true/”Idle chat” I don’t care Good
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
Small Talk – Not a waste of time
Communication II
Business meetings and business environment opening of the first meeting:
2 hours later
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
• “mañana” attitude -> “patience - it will be settled”• strong present-orientedness• short-term planning• punctuality is relative• polychronic time management• improvisational talent – doing instead of planning• time as unforeseeable factor
interruptions and postponements of meetings are normal
Understanding of time
Communication III
HOW to say something?
Goal: social harmony
Importance of context
Non-verbal aspects
Empathy and understanding
Personal commitment before contractual liability
Loyality towards business partner and not company
Conversation climate
Relationship aspect
Familiarity
Scene 2 – Feedback talk employee - bossScene 1 – Before a business meeting
Work Environment II
Hierarchical thinking
• principle of seniority
• autocratic leadership style
• low social mobility
• authority is rarely doubted
• need for dependency
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
“Dive” - Conflict resolution• try to avoid a conflict• try to avoid open
problem analysis in order to not hurt persons involved
• conflicts with need for harmony
Feedback and critics
• praise for good work• talk about topics where there
is a consensus• critics only
• in private• in positive atmosphere• without accusation
Work Environment I
Scene 1 – Before a business meeting
What does a boss expect from his/her employee? • Has to be susceptible to
instructions• Should listen to what the
manager says• Emphasis of positive
aspects
What does an employee expect from his/her boss? • Clear instructions• Social as well as
professional skills• Has to care about
employee (also in private life)
• Positive feedback
Brazil
Orientation towards
hierarchiesInterpersonal
orientation towards harmony
Orientation towards the
present
Fexibility (jeito)
Relationship oriented
Openness to communication
Indirect communication
Polychronic understanding
of time
In a Nutshell
Let’s come back to our initial activity…