WORKING WITH AMERICANS

INTRODUCTION

What if the biggest barrier to collaboration were the way we interpret (or misinterpret) the working culture in the United States? Why do I feel that I’m missing something? What approach should I take to build mutual trust and foster collaboration?

In the United States, communication is generally direct, action-oriented, and strongly influenced by the value placed on efficiency, individual initiative, and visible success. The way feedback is given, achievements are recognised, or meetings are conducted reflects a professional culture centred on clarity, motivation, and pragmatism.

Through a practical approach, this training provides the keys to understanding the specificities of American culture, avoiding misunderstandings, building mutual trust and improving collaboration.

PREREQUISITES

Prior to the training, participants will be invited to complete the Nomad’ profiler.

TARGET AUDIENCE

• Professionals who regularly work with partners, clients, or teams in the United States.
• Managers and employees involved in exports, projects or negotiations with American counterparts.
• Expatriate professionals or those relocating to the United States for work.
• International teams seeking to improve the effectiveness of their interactions within the American cultural context.

OBJECTIVES

• Adopt an intercultural approach.
• Understand the American context and culture.
• Decifrar códigos culturais e analisar situações de má comunicação/incompreensão.
• Adaptar os seus métodos de comunicação e de trabalho.
• Decode decision-making and negotiation processes.

PROGRAM

Session 1: Interpersonal Communication & Intercultural filters (02h00)

Introduction

• Presentations, objectives, agenda
• Identify opportunities and challenges

Interpersonal Communication & perceptions

• The 4 cultural layers
• Differences in Perception
• Flexibility vs Rigidity

Introduction to the Nomad’ Profiler

• Understanding Intercultural Dimensions (Relationships with Society, Work and Others). 
• Reflection on operational impact

Between session 1: E-learning USA (individual work in English)

• Cultural and social context of the United States
• Values and behaviours at work
• Videos, exercises and final quiz
• American cultural profile

Session 2: Overview of American culture

• A vast, multicultural and multilingual territory
• Pioneering spirit, War of Independence and American dream
• The issue of religion: belonging to a community
• Federal State and Federal States: power dynamics in the USA
• The economic and social challenges of the world's largest economy
• WASP culture: a founding reference
• Self-Made Man and Bill of Rights: freedom above all
• « Time is money »
• Mobility as a lifestyle

Between session 2: Nomad’ Profile (00h30 - English)

• Completion of the questionnaire and Nomad’ intercultural profile online
• Delivery of individual Nomad’ Profiler by email

Session 3: Optimise your communication

Working with the United States

• Relationship with society (Hierarchical distance, Rule application, Reference)
• Relationship with work (Reasoning, Time management, Risk relationship)
• Relationship with others (Professional relationships, Communication, Conflict management, Expression of emotions)

Brainstorming & Action plan

• Characteristics of a high-performance team
• Brainstorming in sub-groups
• Debriefing, feedback and action plan

Conclusion & Closure

• Keep doing, stop doing, start doing
• Check-out

Post-session Country Packs

• Access for 1 year to the Akteos Academy Country Packs (80 countries)
• Expand your knowledge about the country (Cultural guidelines, business life, overview)