Intercultural Training China: Coaching for professionals and executives responsible for China

The 'Intercultural Training China' is designed for entrepreneurs and employees from Germany, Austria and Switzerland who are engaged in business activities in China or are about to be sent on a secondment or a business trip.

Enhance your intercultural knowledge and strengthen your collaboration with China through our tailor-made 'Intercultural Training China.' This training is specifically designed for entrepreneurs and employees from Germany, Austria and Switzerland who are actively engaged in business with China or preparing for secondments or business trips.

We provide our coaching as a comprehensive package in both German for the German, Austrian and Switzerland side (such as the parent company) and in Chinese for the Chinese side (such as the subsidiary).

“Evaluate and strengthen your communication skills in doing business in China!”

With topics such as saving face, guanxi, communication, body language, negotiation, micromanagement and as well as etiquette at business dinners, we offer comprehensive coaching to strengthen your intercultural communication capabilities and enhance your success. By analysing your situation individually, we can address potential challenges early on.

Your advantage: Enhanced comprehension of Chinese communication nuances, thought processes, and values, leading to improved collaboration in conducting business with China!

Sara Zimmermann, Hong Lang, Fang Fang

Training Objectives

Our training objectives include an overview of the Confucian way of thinking, Chinese culture and values, intercultural communication and cooperation as well as corporate culture. This will help you optimize your communication in doing business in China, both locally and remotely. Benefit from the long experience and extensive know-how of our partners and colleagues. Our training will enable your employees to improve their (remote) collaboration skills.

You will learn to distinguish between what is said and what is actually meant, as the Chinese language is rich in context. Based on this, we will show you how to negotiate successfully with Chinese business partners. We will explain clever argumentation techniques and how a "no" can be conveyed without explicitly saying or accepting it.

We will cover the current situation and newest developments in China. After our training, you will know your way around.

Your advantage lies in the increased transparency and sustainability in your China business, the avoidance of misunderstandings, improved productivity and enhanced compliance monitoring.

Training Topics:

Part 1 - The art of Chinese communication and Chinese cultural norms:

Fundamentals of the Chinese Culture and Chinese Values along with cultural differences compared to Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Self-perception, perception of others, as well as increasing the ability to empathize (to recognize finer nuances)
Chinese – context-rich & non-verbal communication
Building Guanxi (Vitamin B)
Saving, losing and gaining face

Part 2 - Distinct case scenarios in the Chinese workday:

Chinese working methods (meetings, presentations and project work)
Management in China: hierarchical differences
Remote collaboration & remote leadership: common misconceptions and advice
Teambuilding and supervision
Dealing with conflicts: typical conflict areas and solution approaches
Giving and accepting feedback correctly
Best practice: daily work via email, phone, Zoom/Microsoft Teams- Meetings and On-Site

Distinct case situations you know from your everyday work, with interactive sequences!

With engaging segments:

What's your motivation for joining?

What disparities or similarities have you identified in your intercultural communication with China?

Part 3 - Cooperation and negotiation with Chinese business partners:

Business culture in China
Characteristics of the customer-supplier relationship
Efficient management of highly stressful circumstances in China
Negotiation tactics - 10 points to consider
Business meals in China
Tips for a business trip to China
The topic of commercial bribery

Part 4 - Chinese Crash Course

Everyday Chinese
Business Chinese
Chinese Proverbs – Chengyu
Modern Sayings

After the training, you will receive our training materials as a compact PDF guide along with a certificate.

Approach

We work according to Erin Meyer's 'Eight-Scale Communication Model': a categorization model for classifying behaviour-based cultural differences. We will teach you how to apply the categorization to your China business.

Cultural disparities impact how we perceive, think and act. The 'Intercultural Training China' aims to unravel these cultural factors between Germany, Austria and Switzerland and China, ultimately enhancing intercultural effectiveness.

Target Audience

Professionals and executives with responsibilities related to China.

Language

Presentations and seminar materials are in German (partly English) language

Price

On request

Duration

Online: Four hours, including breaks

On-Site: One-day training, eight hours, including interactive sessions and breaks

Booking

Benefit from our best practice tips from China consulting and entrepreneurial experience. Upon request, we are happy to customize the content (expansion or reduction of individual modules) to suit your specific requirements.

Book an appointment via e-mail: china.desk@bdp-team.de or phone: +49 (0) 30 44 33 61 0. Your contact person: Ms. Sara Zimmermann. We will be happy to provide you with an individual offer.

The "Intercultural Training China" can also be booked as part of our "China Compact Training" with other topics relevant to Chinese business, such as Chinese tax and labour law, financial accounting and the annual audit.

Your Advisors

Our advsiors speak German, English and Chinese and have lived in both Germany and China.

Join us in delving into the practical aspects of effective communication for conducting business in China.

Fang Fang

Partner bdp China, COO bdp Mechanical Components
Location: Hamburg

Mrs. Fang has been in Germany for over 20 years. She joined bdp in 2013 and has advised and assisted more than 50 German clients in Germany and China. She advises German executives on their China strategy, subsidiary establishment and development, purchasing optimization and social, tax and labour-related issues.

With 15 years of professional experience in both Germany and China, she has developed a deep understanding of the Chinese market and the specifics of working with China. Due to her Chinese-German background, she is very experienced in maintaining intercultural relations and has first-hand knowledge of both Chinese and German managers' perspectives.

In her coaching sessions, Mrs. Fang prioritizes practical relevance within a business context.

Hong Lang

Business Development Manager and Senior Consultant
Location: Frankfurt

Ms. Lang has resided in Germany for over 15 years. At bdp, she excels in supporting company establishment, stock market listings and M&A transactions in Germany, collaborating closely with the Sino-German team to ensure comprehensive consulting in the fields of financing, taxes, auditing and due diligence.

Her adeptness in navigating communication between diverse German and Chinese parties is an integral part of her daily responsibilities. She is highly regarded as an exceptional mediator and communicator.

Sara Zimmermann

Senior Consultant · China Consulting
Location: Berlin

Ms. Zimmermann is a Senior Consultant in bdp's China Advisory, bringing her expertise in Chinese Law and Comparative Law (M.A. Göttingen, LL.M. oec. Nanjing). She collaborates closely with our team of Chinese lawyers and tax advisors to provide comprehensive guidance to clients from Germany, Austria and Switzerland on matters concerning Chinese tax law, labour law and social security law.

With five years of experience living, studying and working in China, she possesses an in-depth understanding of the nuances between German and Chinese culture and communication. Her adeptness in navigating these differences enables her to effectively assist clients in overcoming any challenges that may arise.