International Training
HumanDimensions has extensive experience in developing intercultural competences and improving international leadership and teamwork. All of our training courses are made to measure: we tailor their content and working methods to the needs, aims and learning styles of the participants and your organisation.
We believe that (in-company) training will only have an effect if the participants have the opportunity to put in practice what they have learned. To give you an impression of the types of workshops and themes we can offer, you will find an overview of previous processes below.
Contact us to discuss the possibilities for your organisation.
Languages available: Dutch and English.
Our International Training Courses
Managing Cultural Dynamics (½ - 4 days)
Target group: everyone who works in an international context. There is a particular dynamic to cooperation within an international environment. HumanDimensions provides lectures, short intensive workshops and courses on the ins and outs of these dynamics and how you can use these to your advantage. These programmes are based on the book Managing Cultural Dynamics. We will draw up a tailor-made programme for you, based on the time available, the size of the group and your learning goals. The themes covered may include: culture shock, the impact of diversity on teamwork, intercultural competences, cultural dimensions, mechanisms of exclusion, intercultural communication, etc. For more detailed information about our approach, see our vision of managing cultural dynamics and the improvement of intercultural competences.
International Strategic Influencing skills (1 to 3 days)
Target group: everyone who needs to exert influence in an international context, without formal power. "We need to convince people from all over the world about our plans, how can we do this?" What works in Spain may have a completely different effect in China. Furthermore, it is important to know who really takes the decision and what the channels of influence are. These can differ markedly from one culture to another. Potential programme elements for this training: stakeholder analysis, influencing skills, persuasiveness in a global perspective, pitching team objectives and ambitions, styles of interaction (Leary) and making use of the informal field of influence. Working method: often with an actor and the insight-promoting LingHe simulation game.
Expat training: Working in the Netherlands (1 day)
Target group: expats or exchange students who are new to the Netherlands. During this workshop, participants are given an intensive introduction to Dutch culture, tailored specifically to the context of work or study. To familiarise them with the world as seen and heard by Dutch eyes and ears, we will answer questions such as: How does the famous Dutch directness really work? What is typical of Dutch decision-making? How do status and hierarchies work? When can I expect a culture shock; what is this exactly, and how can I deal with it? Working method: with actor.
Presenting for an international audience (1 - 2 ½ days)
Target group: everyone who has to present to international groups. A lot of people find presenting very stressful. Particularly if you have to speak in a foreign language. Even more so if there is a lot at stake, for yourself or your organisation. During this training course (or coaching sessions), 'the golden triangle' of delivering lectures is our focus: how to optimise the connection with yourself, the content of your presentation and your audience? Attention is focussed on what you have to say and how you can tailor this, verbally and non-verbally, to your international audience. We will improve your international persuasiveness and pay specific attention to culturally diverse expectations regarding presentations. Also possible in combination with language coaching.
The dynamics of difference – an introduction (½ - 1 day)
Target group: everyone who has to deal with diversity and opposing interests. Highly suitable for global team meeting events. Following a brief introduction, participants will be immersed in a simulation in which they are confronted in a very lively way with the effects of difference. The simulations (for example, games such as Barnga, Ecotonos, Derdians, Albatros) are debriefed effectively on the basis of the Cultural Stepping Stones, and these form a ladder to the dynamics taking place within the team or the organisation. This workshop is suitable for groups of 15 to 500 people. Highly effective in combination with team coaching.
Intercultural communication (1 - 2 days)
Target group: everyone who works in an international context. Everyone has their own, personal style of communication. Different styles can also be distinguished at group level: we refer to these as intercultural communication. In this training course, we investigate different communications styles that occur in the world on the basis of the culture model drawn up by the British linguist Richard Lewis, and how these effect persuasiveness, the exerting of influence and giving of feedback. Possibly with an actor and a unique musical working method based on the 'global rhythms of communication'. Often includes the CultureActive assessment.
Intercultural competences: beyond cultural awareness (2 - 4 sessions)
Target group: everyone who works within an international context. An intensive programme, in which we work to improve the competences needed when working in an international arena, following an on-line assessment (TIP). Focussing on your personal assumptions and behavioural patterns in relation to 'the other'. How to translate (leadership) qualities and skills into a different cultural context? This training is often combined with personal coaching (by telephone or face-to-face), and also possible in combination with culture-specific briefings.
Diversity & Strategy: the paradox of diversity & inclusiveness (½ - 2 days)
Target group: management teams, diversity managers and project groups on diversity. Various surveys show that specific attention is required to create an organisation in which diversity is really put to good use. But what kind of attention, and from whom? What dynamic creates diversity (for example following a merger), and how can you respond to this strategically? And: what behaviour do you want to have in your organisation to create a more inclusive corporate culture? How can you achieve this? Result of the workshop: analysis of the dynamics within your organisation and concrete steps aimed at furthering the desired change. Also possible: explanation of the ViralChange™ method and use of the LingHe simulation game.
High-performing International Teams (½ - 3 days)
Target group: highly diverse teams (in terms of ethnicity, gender, religion, etc). During this training cours, we create awareness of the dynamics of difference within the team and open people up to discuss these. We then explore the differences and the similarities between team members and explore the effects of these on their cooperation. In doing so, we develop the intercultural skills of the team members and improve mutual trust and effective communication. By making use of a creative thought process, the major issues will be resolved. and the diffrences can be leveraged within the team. In short: a challenging team building process that gives specific attention to diversity, dysfunctional subgroups and (cultural) misunderstandings.
International leadership (½ - 4 days)
Target group: managers, team leaders, project leaders. A training course that examines in greater depth the role of a manager in improving cooperation within a (culturally) diverse team. Building (swift) trust in one another and a clear team loyalty demands specific actions from the leader of a group. We build the intercultural skills of leaders and managers, aimed at communication, building commitment and results-orientation. In short, a training course in situational leadership plus: leadership in combination with improving intercultural competences.
Dilemmas and paradoxes (1 - 2 days)
Target group: everyone involved with diversity and opposing interests. This training course will teach you to unlock the potential creativity that is hidden away within the diversity of a group and to use this by thinking more deeply in terms of dilemmas. What dilemmas, what polarities, are contained in a particular issue or group? During the course, you will learn to look differently at the same problem using the skills 'polarity mapping' and 'dilemma thinking'. The process of 'creative problem-solving' provides a refreshing look at issues of diversity.
Diversity and conflict: deep democracy (1 - 3 days)
Target group: everyone who is involved with diversity and opposing interests. A highly process-oriented training/coaching in which repressed conflicts are brought to the surface for discussion and decision-making within the team is improved by means of the deep democracy method. Extremely useful for both existing teams and groups wishing to learn about the methods and skills involved in deep democracy.
Change Management in China (½ - 1 day)
Target group: everyone interested in change management in China and elsewhere. Ling He is both great fun and a highly educational game that provides insight into what does and doesn’t work when implementing change in a Chinese organisation. Also suitable for managers working outside of China, in places where informal power structures play an important role. During a workshop, we will play the game and link the experiences obtained to personal skills and the relevance of the insights obtained to your organisation strategy with regard to change management. Can be combined with a culture-specific module 'China'.
Train-the-international-trainer: Cultural Diversity (1 - 3 days)
Target group: experienced trainers, educators and teachers working with multicultural groups. The facilitating of international groups involves taking account of different styles of learning, expectation patterns, communications styles and forms of loss of face. What is the cultural dynamic within the learning group and how can you as an educator make good use of the added value offered by the diversity within the group? What role do your own ideas about 'effective feedback' and 'optimum learning' play? We'll explore concrete methods and ways of working that can be useful in your own international training practice. A range of in-depth modules are offered, such as "Voice Dialogue & Culture Shock", "Relatedness Systems" and "Managing Polarities". For further inspiration, see the whole range as presented on this site.
Train-the-international-training-actor (1 - 3 days)
Target group: experienced training actors. In principle, a good actor can play any role. But how to give feedback from a cultural way of thinking other than your own? After all, acting in training courses is all about making explicit 'how someone’s way of communicating comes across'. As an actor, can you correctly judge how a Russian, Indonesian, Mexican or Swedish manager is feeling? In this training course, we investigate what is possible, and what isn’t. How are cultural dimensions (Trompenaars, Hofstede, Lewis, Hall) translated into acting, and how does your own cultural viewpoint influence your behaviour and interpretations? We also devote attention to providing effective feedback, with an awareness of potential loss of face in the group. The training course is given by an experienced international trainer and an experienced international training actor. Practical, inspirational and confrontational. Gives added depth to your acting.
