Tips to understand other cultures - Intercultural Communication

We define culture as a dynamic and shared meanings, attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviors that are transmitted over the time from a group members to others (They are parents, teachers, media, etc.). Cultures are not homogeneous but each one has different characteristics that have developed over the time influenced by different circumstances.

Culture is learned and shared. It is a knowledge that allows people to communicate with others and interpret their behavior. This means that the interpretation of other's behavior will be influenced by our culture itself, that we have learned. Therefore, when we are faced with another person who comes from another culture, we tend to "judge " or "understand" the behavior from our perspective, which can lead  prejudices, stereotypes, etc. that impedes clear communication with the another person. In the workplace this will move to unclear policies, increased costs in projects due to delays, employees, colleagues or bosses dissatisfied with personal and team's performance creating a vicious circle of conflict. In the area of interculturalism this is a toxic element called -ethnocentrism produced usually with the belief that one's own cultural group is better or more evolved than the other or simply a misunderstanding that there are other perspectives and that behavior can have other causes.

But how to get out of this vicious circle within the field of business?. Among the most efficient tips are those effectively listen, give feedback to the person with which you are communicating (either verbal or nonverbal ), present problems as mutual, mix the positive with the negative feedback, provide feedback on an appropriate time, use the "I " Whenever possible, be specific and so on.

It is very important to be prepared for what the other culture and the other should be prepared on our as well and that it is possible to find a new field of understanding where business or personal relationships are more efficient.  You should talk to people individually, is a very important element . Always in private, Whenever possible.

Here is a video of two minutes where languages ​​do not need to understand the importance of a team is in clear communication, having a good predisposition to avoid more serious consequences such as those seen in the same (time approx 2 minutes).

http://youtu.be/HD4KQM6KZow

Paula de Figueiredo

PM Intercultural Agent

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Re-Emigration. A new Phenomenon. How to manage the process?. Intercultural Management

In the past, when humans were nomad and traveled regularly due to various circumstances , the phenomenon of re- emigration was just a normal part of life. But when they settled the decision to move was quite a change which involved great efforts.

But why people who had emigrated seeking a better quality of life, when a crisis in the country was presented, they remained there and not return?

Normally, most of the people who left their homeland in search of a better future and accompanied by a better quality of life, did not return to their homeland for several reasons. One of them was the family. Having a family, often made ​​even more difficult to migrate. Another reason was to have a job. If you had a work the need to return was not so deeply felt even thought this job was not giving him what he really wanted.

Back to the homeland meant very expensive decision for the reasons mentioned above, the costs of travel, to let friends who had, the learned language and culture (which for many is a high cost for not being prepared) and a deep belief that the country where they were at that time had more ability to get out of the crisis itself, that they had left.

Well. With the advent of low cost travels , learning more languages​​, "globalization ", the asset it means to know other cultures , the elimination of " customs and immigration borders " and the signing of international agreements that facilitate the mobilization of human resources , re- emigrate is no so complicated. The person who re- emigrate has a different profile that migrates first . We consider re- emigrate to leave the country in search of a third country  that is not their own but one that provides more chances of getting a better quality of life, which for various reasons have had to leave ( eg, loss of a job).

People who re- migrate searching of a better future that they believe they won´t find if they stay where they are, they have a fighting spirit, innate entrepreneurial skills and a very important asset the knowledge of another culture (although countries were of the same language have different thoughts and behaviors ). But they face a new challenge, a fresh start and a new culture, which often take considerable time to re- adapt , re- learning and re -understanding.  Ideally, people who move because of studies, work, etc. . to other cultures went with cultural baggage that allows them to be inserted a much easier way in the new  social group. I refer not only to the language (which helps a lot )  but an understanding of how think those people, why, what behaviors expected of foreigners, how to handle conflictive situations, etc.  to find work faster, having less conflict with neighbors and co-workers , understanding  the adminsitrative structures making the process of re- insertation in the new social group, successful.

Think moving to Germany, a country of Latin America , China or Spain ? You know how to introduce yourself, find a job, make a resume, work with them, negotiate, discuss what issues and what not, etc.. I invite you to learn more and better understand those cultures they will visit www.intercultural- agent.com

Paula de Figueiredo

PM Intercultural Agent

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Work & Perú. Visas & Intercultural Management

Today we talk about Peru that has 28,220,764 inhabitants according to the 2007 Census. It ranks as the fifth most populous country in South America. The biggest cities are on the coast, as Sullana, Piura, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Chimbote, Lima and Ica . Its independence was in 1821.

Currently, to work temporarily in Peru you need a visa, excepting citizens from Brazil and Indonesia. (1)

Temporary visas are as: Artist, temporary worker, designated worker (non resident), student, religious Catholic, non-Catholic religious independent investor and professional independent. For all of them  it is required completing the Form F- 007, which is free. (2)

Economic information from Peru to 2012:

Real growth was 6.3 % in 2012 standing at 40th position in the world . The GDP is 10,900 U.S. dollars. The purchasing power, as a country, ranks at 40th position in the world.. Its economy is divided agriculture: 6.4 % industry: 36.3 % services: 57.3 %. Its current president is Ollanta Humala, a retired military.

It is the world's largest producer of silver and the second of Zinc.

Management in Peru:

It is important to know that they like to talk in close proximity to each other and stepping back, an unconscious gesture to reclaim the "space", is seen as a rebuff, a rudeness.

Keeping eye contact while speaking is an asset.

More information about working or dealing with this culture in: http://www.intercultural-agent.com/

Paula Figueiredo

PM Intercultural Agent

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(1) http://www.digemin.gob.pe/informacion/VISA/VisasXExtranOctubre2010.pdf
(2) http://www.digemin.gob.pe/servicios_inmigracion_visas_temporales.html

China: Who was Confucius? - Intercultural management

Confucius was a thinker who has influenced the Chinese culture in a profound way. He was born 550 BC and the Confucianism doctrine is considered a rule of life rather than a religion.

Among their ideas,there is stability and harmony. An harmonious society is one in which relationships are unequal between its members and there is a strong focus on "hierarchy" producing a strong respect for age, autocratic* centralization of government and management.

The harmony search is done by keeping the "image of oneself" in a social group being thus, a strong and dominant social regulator. If you lose your face within the social group, it is considered as a loss of dignity.

The harmony is maintained in the field of management with the practice of benevolent leadership where everybody practices "loyalty" within the group.

An interesting element of Confucianism is the rule of "hard work and education" and this explains the economic boom of the Asian countries. They are willing to work long hours and make a major effort for the companies where they work .

Family is another crucial element. The concept of the group and the belonging to the group plays an important role in social behavior. In Chinese "guānxi " is a term that refers to the relationship between two people. One can turn to the other no matter if you have the same social status . It's a network where individuals have a high degree of empathy and everybody expect that.

Paula Figueiredo

PM Intercultural Agent

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* Wikipedia : Autocracy is a political concept . The term comes from the Greek autos ( self ) and kratos (rule or power ). 

Work & Brazil - Intercultural management -

"Si são as mais grandes do mundo, tem que ser brasileiras" (if they are the biggest in the world, they must be Brazilian) said an advertisement of olives. Brazilians realized more than twenty years ago that Brazil is "big". Apart from being the fifth largest country in the world in total surface area and population, the country is ranked at the 25th position as an exporter and the 23rd as an importer world-wide. Its exports are mainly to China, Argentina and the Netherlands according to the "Central Intelligence Agency" in 2012. Its imports are in dollars slightly lower than exports.

Brazil is globally ranked 8th in "purchasing power" which makes it a major attraction for foreign companies and investors. Brazil borders with 10 countries and has 11 satellites. Among its international agreements on multilateral trade is the MERCOSUR.

Working with different cultures demands knowing certain specific points in its history, climate and geography to understand the behavior and thinking of the other.

Brazilians have a great respect for tradition and there is a large social pressure to keep them. Their objectives are measured more in the long run than in the short term. Brazilians also easily accept changes in work projects.

Paula Figueiredo

PM Intercultural Agent

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