Working with Belgians
Belgium, a complex nation made up of 3 distinctive communities.
Belgium has vibrant economy as well as hosting prestigious international organizations NATO, European Commission and the European Council. The cultural context of the country can prove both challenging and rewarding for business professionals.
Aim
Understand Belgian culture and adapt your behaviour to develop lasting relationships and succeed in your professional projects.
Duration
1 day – 7 hours, face to face or by video conferencing.
Group
2 – 14 participants
Prerequisites
Participants should preferably have some work experience with, and exposure to, multicultural environments. Proficiency level required (TOEIC 750) for the course in English.
Course language
English or French
Course certificate
Certificate of course completion
Participant Profile
This “Working with Belgians” program is designed for any manager in charge of projects with Belgian customers, suppliers and /or colleagues.
Benefits
• Develop your cultural DNA and its similarities and differences with Belgians professional culture and civic values
• Understand the dynamics of culture in the behavior of Belgians and avoid misunderstandings related to cultural differences
• Develop communication strategies to work more effectively with Belgian partners
• Be able to successfully conduct meetings and negotiations with Belgian partners.
Content
Before the seminar:
Each participant will carry out a personal cultural assessment with the online tool Meyer Personal Culture Profile™. This tool will enable each participant to understand her/his personal values and cultural preferences and compare them to a standardized Belgian professional profile.
During the seminar:
Our training is very participatory and experiential. Our approach includes alternating between theory and practice, simulations, and group activities. A variety of case studies and group interaction are programmed into this training course. Our objective is to engage learners mentally, emotionally and behaviorally, aligning them to the complexities and richness of intercultural exchanges with the Belgians.
Some possible key topics:
• Key moments in Belgian history, portrait of Belgian society, and civic values
• The Belgian kingdom, Royal Family and today’s political situation.
• Official languages: French, Flemish, German and English as business languages
• Economy, business, and International Organizations in Belgium.
• Belgian professional values and their dynamics at work
• Communication with Belgians at work: interpersonal, feedback and written
• Meetings and presentations in Belgium
• Negotiating with Belgians
• Manager and subordinate relationships
• Developing trust with Belgian partners