Cultural Awareness
Western Influences’ senior consultants are experienced in cross-cultural interactions at both personal and business levels, having lived and worked in and traded with a variety of countries and cultures.
Cultural sensitivity begins with the understanding that there are differences among cultures. Furthermore, cultural sensitivity includes placing value on this diversity. One can never learn everything about another culture; however, there are practical, everyday steps we can take to develop our cultural awareness.
Western Influences is experienced in running leadership development programs across cultures and across generations. These programs are particularly useful when there is a diverse group of stakeholders, with sometimes conflicting needs, that need to work together for joint outcomes.
Cross-cultural awareness training is founded in communication and involves teaching people the ability of standing back from themselves and becoming aware of their cultural values, beliefs and perceptions; and, how these impact on those around them. These programs build respect and understanding in relationships and are essential in developing lasting business partnerships.
One of Western Influences’ senior consultants is qualified in Workplace Health and Safety. Critical to the success of any safety program’s implementation is the ability to communicate across cultures. This consultant has experience in facilitating on-site safety inductions across diverse cultures and with languages other than English. The importance of 360 degrees of understanding cannot be stressed enough when it comes to protecting people’s lives and wellbeing.
One of Western Influences’ senior consultants was engaged by the Western Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WA CCI) to undertake research into the influence of gender on international trade negotiations. At that time, she was the Managing Director of Acirema Associates Pty Ltd, a successful import / export company.
The research focused on Australians trading within the Asia-Pacific region, and defined strategies for when and how gender differences could be utilised to the negotiator’s advantage in securing international trade deals. At the time, this work was highly controversial, but proved worthwhile when the WA CCI invited her to present the research findings and recommended strategies to its membership.
