Cross-Cultural Training for Europeans

Our cross-cultural training seminars for Europeans go beyond business card presentation and chopstick use to provide substantial insights that will affect your business. Our interactive sessions use group discussions, case studies, and lively examples from the facilitator's own business experience to keep the pace fast and stimulating. Our unique "self-customising" format ensures that each session is tailored to the specific needs of the participants. Our seminars help participants better understand the cultural mindset of their colleagues, and develop practical strategies for achieving business goals together.

Working Effectively with Japanese Colleagues -- basic version

Europeans who work with Japanese usually have many questions about how to improve relationships and communication, but no good place to get the answers. This seminar is an opportunity to get those questions answered by an expert who is highly skilled in explaining the intricacies of Japanese business and society. Topics covered include Japanese communication style, techniques for overcoming the language barrier, how decisions are made in Japanese organisations, and how to make meetings with Japanese more effective.

Working Effectively with Japanese Colleagues -- advanced version

The longer one works with Japanese, the more questions one may have about the differences between European and Japanese organisations and work styles. This seminar addresses the needs of Europeans who have worked with Japanese for more than three years, or have completed our basic course. This course goes into more depth than our introductory course, providing new insights and strategies for improving communication and relationships with Japanese. It is taught through interactive discussion of case studies, with topics including differences in goal-setting approaches, the role of the parent company in decision-making in Japanese organisations, and different views of work/life balance issues.

Communicating with Japanese Customers

In Japan, the ways that suppliers interact with their customers can be quite different to those in Europe. Japanese often bring those expectations along with them when they do business here. Understanding Japanese concepts of customer service, and the communication style preferred by Japanese, can help you be more successful in working with Japanese customers. This session covers which characteristics Japanese customers value most in their suppliers, how to market to Japanese, and how to communicate with Japanese before and after the sale.

Effective Business Trips to Japan

Business trips to Japan are important opportunities to interact with headquarters staff, make a good impression, and build relationships. At the same time, because one is on the "home turf" of Japanese, the expectations to follow Japanese business and social etiquette is intensified. This course discusses what you need to know to ensure that your business trip to Japan is successful, from conducting meetings to socialising in the evenings. Common pitfalls are discussed and ways of avoiding them are introduced.