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…