The Skills of Cross-Cultural Management in Thailand

Note: This course was the first of its kind in the world, in its unique method of bringing two cultures together to learn from each other. It continues to be enormously popular, with several thousands of “graduates.” Though pioneered in Thailand, it has also been presented in Vietnam, Laos, and Indonesia, Singapore, Australia, France, and the United States. More than 75 nationalities have attended.

Who is this workshop for?

• Expatriate managers who are not getting the results they expect with their Thai colleagues, or simply want to do better
• Thais who don’t feel fully comfortable or skilled working with expatriates or who would like to work at more senior levels with expatriates and multi-national organizations
• Expatriates who want their Thai colleagues to report bad news when it occurs, and approach Expats more easily

Workshop Goals : to present a variety of ways for Thai and foreign colleagues to improve understanding and communication

The Results : improved productivity and working relations between team members.

“Great interaction, engagement and style, especially the way real life examples were used. Very well prepared Very well-prepared and a fantastic training. Moreover, useful. Thank you so much’ Cheers!”
– – J.W. Marriott

Skills that foreign managers gain : How to function effectively and smoothly as a leader in a Thai or other Asian environment, in order to gain trust and loyalty

Skills that Thai managers gain : Increased competence for dealing easily and openly with foreign colleagues, both inside and outside of the company

Key areas examined :

• The culturally different functions, roles, and responsibilities that management plays
• The cultural differences in leadership, decision processes, meeting methods, ways of instilling urgency, and lines of organizational communication
• The importance of assertiveness (particularly feedback) and accountability; how must be put into practice
• Course leaders construct a friendly and constructive atmosphere so participants learn from each other. The trainers share their own valuable experience, in both English and Thai.

This course has been found highly useful by companies such as :

“The course leaves a deep impression on people, who are even able to quote from it several years later on. The course not only explains the differences between foreign and Thai cultures, but through the use of workshops, role-play and the involvement of an equal number of Foreigners and Thais, manages to prepare the foreigner to do business and live among Thai people effectively.”
– – Managing Director, National Starch & Chemical, Thailand

“… You showed not only a very professional knowledge of the subject, but also a willingness to listen and accommodate our different company needs and wishes. Not only to the Thai culture, but as we represented so many different nationalities, to cross culture in its broader meaning. It was indeed a distinctive display of professionalism. And that we all together had a lot of fun, and a number of laughs together, made it all even better.”
– – Personnel Manager, IKEA Asia Pacific.