GLOBAL AWARENESS

From factory workers to Fortune 500 executives, more of us today are trying to meet deadlines with people halfway around the world. Global business and communications skills are no longer essential only for company leaders-they are required throughout many functional areas of the organization.

Corporations are struggling with how to be globally integrated and responsive to very different local markets. If firms are to prosper, they must develop people who can successfully formulate and implement multinational strategies, invent and utilize global technology, and create and coordinate information within cross-cultural teams across the globe. In a recent survey of more than 100 executives, 75 percent felt their companies didn't have nearly enough global leaders, yet fewer than eight percent had programs to address the shortage. These statistics demonstrate the critical importance of global skills and the lack of the highly trained resources necessary to implement a global strategy.

Wilson Learning's Global Awareness program addresses this urgent need of twenty first century organizations and shows how to bridge cultural differences to achieve peak performance worldwide. Cross-cultural awareness is achieved, in part, by developing a global mindset. This mindset focuses on understanding differences and similarities in how people think, act, and behave.

Global Awareness training is appropriate for:

	Business leaders planning and executing global business strategy
	Home office staff who support and manage global business activities and people
	International transferees and their families
	Employees working with multicultural colleagues, customers, and suppliers.
	International travelers

Program Overview

A comprehensive implementation process is used to create and customize each client's Global Awareness skills program. Through the use of a Participant Questionnaire, tailored training materials, and delivery, Wilson Learning's Global Effectiveness Group is able to meet your specific international business objectives. Session length ranges from one half-day to two full days, depending on the needs of your organization. Content can be customized to address the special interests of senior leaders, middle management, or line employees. Upon completion, participants produce a summary report, consolidating key learnings from the class and their action plans for applying that new wisdom.

We have developed an extensive network of facilitators from around the world who share an intimate knowledge of their cultures with program participants. The certification process at Wilson Learning ensures that all facilitators are screened, trained, and have professional business backgrounds and experience to match the complex needs of our clients.

The Global Awareness program includes the following areas of focus:

Cross-Cultural Foundation

This module focuses on the question "How does culture impact business success?" Participants identify their own cultural values, learn how these values affect their behavior, and consider how their values might differ from others around the world. These behaviors are examined and leveraged to increase business effectiveness.

Cross-Cultural Exploration

This section is an experiential exercise that allows participants to understand how it feels to cross cultures.

Global Skills Toolkit

Participants learn about key cultural principles such as the concept of time, the role of business relationships, power distance, and uncertainty avoidance.

Communicating Across Cultural and Language Barriers

The cross-cultural communication framework addresses context and both nonverbal and verbal business communication, and assists participants in communicating effectively around the world. With effectual business communications, companies and their employees increase productivity and can directly impact their bottom line.

Culture Shock

This section outlines the culture shock cycle. Participants will have increased sensitivity to culture shock, what it means, how it influences business, and what they can do when they sense they or others are experiencing it.

Cross-Cultural Business Networking Resources

Participants are provided with a foundation of networking resources and are encouraged to continue building their own support system.

Action Plan

An action plan is developed that applies training principles to projects and ways of conducting business. The intent is for participants to use the skills that they have acquired to realize specific business goals and objectives.