International Business
Communication & Cooperation

Modul I: Let’s talk Business

The key to highly successful phone calls

• Broaden your range of expressions for international calls
• No more stress! Three simple methods, if speaking in English on the phone makes you nervous
• "How can I be of help?" Professional niceties for your global customers and business partners
• How to understand even complicated expert language
• "Let me take care of this!": Top sentences to emphasize your competence and commitment
• Efficient ways to brush up your vocabulary
• Key skills for international assistants on the phone
• Eye-openers: International case studies

Managing difficult telephone calls

• Language tips - well prepared for your challenges
  • Your Indian business partner has a rather strong accent
  • Your Chinese colleague speaks very little English
  • Your American caller speaks much too fast
• Staying calm and friendly - even if your caller does not
• Fast and efficient ways to handle anonymous calls
• Don‘t panic! Five ways to handle a vocabulary blank
• Diplomacy for breaking bad news
• Managing different communication styles, values and priorities

Tricks and traps for successful video- and telephone conferences

• Perfect timing! Great results!
• Best practice recommendations

Beyond Leo: The best websites for language support

• Increase your range of expressions
• Fun and fast ways to improve your grammar
• Top quality podcasts for brushing up your English

Mini-workshops: Let's practice typical office phone calls

• Get practice-proven support for your daily tasks
• The topics will be defined by the participants

Modul I: Let’s talk Business (Fortsetzung)

Communication skills and strategies for intercultural cooperation

• Confident, competent and friendly - in a foreign language
• Managing personalities and hierarchies in multicultural business
• Smart ways to gain respect from bosses and co-workers
• Working productively with different personalities and cultures
• Tools and techniques for tricky conversations: mentioning mistakes, clarifying misunderstandings, reminding people of deadlines
• Guidelines for VIP-contacts: Managing the "boss factor"

International guest handling

• First impressions count - make them count for you
• Introductions, greetings, handshakes - do’s and don’ts
• Body language worldwide: Nice gesture, wrong culture!
• Beyond weather: How to love small talk and be loved for it

Intercultural business aspects

• What’s going on! The impact of the culture factor
• International "No-goes": Different standards of politeness, praise & criticism
• Social media: How it can help to get results
• Good team spirit for your global tasks: Cross-cultural insider tips!
• High quality websites on intercultural guidelines, international etiquette and gift giving

Mini-workshops: Let’s practice introductions and small talk

• Different levels of formality when greeting visitors
• Tips and tricks to avoid uncomfortable silences
• Handshake recommendations for your Indian, Chinese, Arab and Japanese guests
• Positive phrases which make a difference
• Create the perfect image for you and your company

Modul II: International Business Writing

Tips, tools and techniques for international business writing

• Modern, professional and friendly style for your e-mails
• The best beginnings and endings for standard e-mails
• What is new? The British "black list" of out-dated phrases
• Phrase bank with a large variety of modern, friendly and positive sentences
• Dear all? Ladies and gentlemen? How to fine-tune your writing style to the situation
• E-mail psychology for global players: Get your message across and win people’s appreciation
• Efficiency with a personal touch: Communicating swiftly with colleagues from all over the world

Powerful stragegies for difficult e-mails

• Diplomatic language for tricky situations
• How to write really friendly reminders which get the job done
• Intercultural issues - no problem
• Asians expect an ultra-polite writing style, Americans hope that you will keep it short and simple, Southern Europeans wish for a personal touch...: Ways to meet and exceed the different expectations

International e-mail etiquette

• E-mail do’s and don’ts worldwide
• Internet abbreviations and when to use them
• When not to write an e-mail

Preparing English presentations

• International guidelines, colour taboos and success factors
• Crucial intercultural facts about international attention spans

Mini-workshops: Let’s practice business writing

• Let’s create some sample e-mails for your global tasks
• The topics will be defined by the participants