Businesses & organisations worldwide have been faced with the reality of VUCA, an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex & ambiguous, for at least two decades.

Businesses and organisations worldwide have been faced with the reality of VUCA, an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous, for at least two decades. The recent pandemic has only added to the list of challenges leaders are facing. Intercultural competence is high on the list of skills needed to deal with VUCA by no longer being seen as a ‘nice to have’. It is an emerging set of skills that is required in every workplace with diverse teams and in international organisations and businesses.

Generic management or communication courses tend to be ‘Western-oriented’ and based on implicit cultural assumptions about what is ‘good management’ or ‘effective communication.’ English as a medium of communication also poses certain challenges for both non-native and native speakers alike. Intercultural competence is becoming even more critical in the age of the remote digital working where it has become even harder to work with people and connect, build rapport with new contacts and manage existing teams. In addition, the pandemic creates a world that is more divided, and the situation is only getting worse. Countries are becoming more distant, and it affects people’s opportunity to experience cultural differences first-hand by immersion.

This course draws on interdisciplinary research to provide the participants with the necessary awareness, know-how and practical skills needed to become more effective at intercultural interactions. Although we acknowledge that culture doesn’t equal country, generation, profession, gender or organisational differences and be equally (if not more) prominent, the course examines how nationality may affect how we think and behave  and therefore communicate, manage, and collaborate. Intercultural competence does not only enhance leadership but also responds better to a VUCA workplace that requires agility, resilience, and collaboration and communication skills.

Today’s world is increasingly diverse as companies embrace globalisation and respond to the shifting landscape of the pandemic. The ability to effectively interact, work and develop meaningful relationships with professionals across different cultures and social groups is essential in a global workforce.

Discover how VUCA (an environment that is volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) represents a set of challenges that all businesses face, and how becoming culturally competent in a globalised, VUCA world can open new markets and networks, promote mutual enrichment, and improve productivity and efficiency.

Drawing on interdisciplinary research, this course will provide you with the necessary awareness, know-how and practical skills needed to become more effective at intercultural interactions. You will draw on various models to analyse your own experiences in order to develop a personal development plan to address effective interactions at work in the face of significant challenges.

Who Should Attend?

🎓 Individuals working in organisations that span across cultures, languages or countries.

🎓 Expatriates (expats), or those working in a non-native country and looking to develop their workplace communication skills.

🎓  EDIB (Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging) professionals keen to learn more about building intercultural communication into their diversity & inclusion models.

Key learning objectives

• Define VUCA and examine the challenges it presents to today’s workplace
• Assess how developing intercultural competence adds value to the VUCA world
• Define intercultural competence using a three step framework
• Define culture and how it affects interactions
• Assess the limitations of culture models
• Analyse case studies where cultural differences have caused misunderstandings/ frustration/ upset
• Apply a range of cultural dimensions to explain misunderstandings/ frustration/upset from past experiences
• Assess your own communication preferences and working style in order to develop your self-awareness
• Anticipate potential challenges arising from your preferences
• Demonstrate an ability to use empathy in your interactions
• • Identify the different stages of the culture adaptation process
• Apply the describe-interpret-evaluate framework to deal with unfamiliar situations
• Assess the challenges of English as a lingua franca in the workplace
• Analyse strategies to overcome these challenges
• Define inclusion in a modern workplace
• Evaluate strategies for improving interaction in culturally diverse teams
• Evaluate your learning from the course and set goals for future development
• Complete a SWOT analysis of your individual context and develop a personal development plan

By the end of the course, you will be able to:

• Assess the impact of VUCA on today’s workplace.
• Define culture and critique several cultural models.
• Explain the effect of cultural differences on interactions.
• Identify individual and cultural preferences for working practices and demonstrate the use of empathy when evaluating others.
• Define the culture adaptation process and develop a strategy to foster effective interactions at work.
• Assess the opportunities and challenges of using English as an international working language and develop strategies to use it in an effective and inclusive way.
• Apply inclusive teamwork and/or leadership skills to successfully complete tasks in a multicultural workplace.
• Evaluate and apply experience and knowledge to create a personal development action plan.

Course Module

Module 1 | Introduction

VUCA and the challenges it presents to today’s workplace (including online communication challenges), definition of intercultural competence using a three step framework and how this adds value to the VUCA world.

Key Topics

• Understanding VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) in the workplace.
• Online communication challenges in a VUCA world.
• Three-step framework for intercultural competence.

Module 2 | What is culture?

How culture affects interactions (from a variety of variables, such as, nationality and organisational culture), the limitations of culture models. 

Key Topics

• Exploration of different cultural variables (nationality, organisational culture).
• Discussion on how culture influences interactions.
• Critical examination of the limitations of culture models.

Module 3 Cultural dimensions

How cultural differences have caused misunderstandings/ frustration/upset in practice and how cultural dimensions can help explain these.

Key Topics:

• Explanation of various cultural dimensions (e.g., Hofstede’s cultural dimensions).
• Real-world examples of how cultural differences lead to misunderstandings.
• Strategies to navigate and address cultural differences.

Module 4 Values at work

Communication preferences and working styles and the potential challenges these bring, using empathy in your interactions, compromising and adapting to different situations.

Key Topics

• Analysis of communication preferences and working styles.
• Challenges posed by different values and working styles.
• Practical application of empathy in intercultural interactions.

Module 5  | Your toolbox

The culture adaptation process stages and the describe-interpret- evaluate framework to deal with unfamiliar situations.

Key Topics

• Culture adaptation process stages.
• Describe-interpret-evaluate framework for unfamiliar situations.
• Case studies to apply the toolbox in real-world scenarios.

Module 6 Communication across cultures

English as a lingua franca in the workplace, clarity versus preserving a relationship.

Key Topics

• English as a lingua franca in the workplace.
• Balancing clarity in communication and preserving relationships.
• Role-playing exercises for effective cross-cultural communication.

Module 7 Effectives leadership & collaboration

Inclusion in a modern workplace, improving interaction in culturally diverse teams, dominant/minority cultures.

Key Topics:

• Inclusion in a modern
• .Strategies for improving interaction in culturally diverse teams.
• Navigating dynamics between dominant and minority cultures.

Module 8  Evaluation and next steps

Evaluation and goal setting, SWOT analysis, and personal development plan.

Key Topics

• Evaluation of the training program.
• SWOT analysis of personal and team intercultural communication skills.
• Goal setting and development of a personal development plan.

Course Outline

Day 1: Understanding the VUCA World and Introduction to Intercultural Competence

Morning Session:

•   – Welcome and Introduction
•   – Overview of VUCA in the Workplace
•   – Challenges of Online Communication in a VUCA World

Afternoon Session:

•   – Defining Intercultural Competence
•   – Three-Step Framework for Intercultural Competence
•   – Group Exercise: Identifying VUCA Challenges

Day 2: Exploring Culture and Cultural Variables

Morning Session:

•   – What is Culture? Understanding Different Variables
•   – How Culture Influences Interactions
•   – Group Discussion: Personal Experiences with Cultural Influences

Afternoon Session:

•   – Examining Limitations of Culture Models
•   – Case Studies: Real-world Examples of Cultural Challenges
•   – Reflection and Group Sharing

Day 3: Cultural Dimensions and Misunderstandings

Morning Session:

•   – Introduction to Cultural Dimensions
•   – How Cultural Differences Cause Misunderstandings
•   – Analysis of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions

Afternoon Session:

•   – Strategies for Navigating Cultural Differences
•   – Case Studies on Addressing Cultural Misunderstandings
•   – Group Exercise: Applying Strategies to Scenarios

Day 4: Values at Work and Communication Preferences

Morning Session:

•   – Analyzing Communication Preferences and Working Styles
•   – Challenges Posed by Different Values at Work
•   – The Role of Empathy in Intercultural Interactions

Afternoon Session:

•   – Practical Application of Empathy in Scenarios
•   – Case Studies: Resolving Interpersonal Challenges
•   – Group Discussions on Effective Communication Strategies

Day 5: Communication Toolbox and Leadership in a Diverse Workplace

Morning Session:

•   – Culture Adaptation Process Stages
•   – Describe-Interpret-Evaluate Framework
•   – Group Activity: Applying the Toolbox to Unfamiliar Situations

Afternoon Session:

•   – English as a Lingua Franca in the Workplace
•   – Balancing Clarity and Relationship Preservation
•   – Strategies for Effective Leadership and Collaboration
•   – Evaluation, SWOT Analysis, Goal Setting, and Personal Development Planning