Welcome to our New Blog!

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Simon Robinson

SIMON & SIMON Language Training

 

 

 

 

 

 

Over the coming weeks we will be populating the blog with lively and useful posts, helping you overcome the language and cultural barriers that stand between you and greater success for your business.  We will be sharing our experience on how companies and their employees can get the most out of their investment in language courses,  and of course informing you of any developments across our range of English & Foreign Language Courses.

If understanding how the French ‘think’ is as important to you as understanding how to ‘speak’ French, then look out for our posts on cross-cultural issues covering many different countries. We will also be addressing many of your frequently asked questions, looking at language trends around the world, and will definitely be confronting head on the enduring notion that ‘Brits’ are ‘no good at languages!’  Over the last 20 years thousands of British employees who have been on our language courses have actually discovered they’re not bad at languages at all – they

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Coaching and How to Use it to Carry the Benefits of Training Back into the Business

Posted on April 4, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

With figures showing that companies investment in training for their employees has grown as a percentage of sales in recent years, the issue of how to ensure a maximum return on that investment is becoming key.  In many cases training is offered to groups of employees over a one or two day period, but companies often struggle to find ways to measure the real benefits and outcomes in the following weeks and months.

While it may involve some further financial investment, ongoing coaching for certain individuals over a period of weeks following the training, is increasingly acknowledged as the most effective way to ensure the learning is consolidated and tailored for the specific needs and objectives of participants.

In this article aimed at those in HR and Learning & Development, Barry Tomalin outlines how ongoing coaching can be used to carry the benefits of training back into the business.

Download Barry’s Guide below and feel free to share it with your colleagues and counterparts

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China – Essential Reading

Posted on March 15, 2013 by Daisy Newton Dunn

China Cultural TrainingDaisy is a China specialist and resident of Shanghai with over 15 years experience in producing and directing television programmes for international broadcasters including the BBC, PBS, Channel 4, ITV, FIVE and National Geographic.

 

After being asked for my opinion on how best to understand modern China I decided to inspect my bookcase and jog my memory for some of the most useful books which I have come across in my own continuing effort to understand China as a resident of Shanghai.   Eventually I managed to separate my top 5 reads and have listed them below with a short summary to guide you on the contents and help you choose the most useful book for you!

1.  The Party by Richard McGregor.  A fantastic book about how the CCP works and explains a lot about how business operates in China too.

The party chinese culture
2.  Poorly Made in China by Paul Midler. Essential reading for anyone involved in manufacturing or uses Chinese suppliers; very revealing about how they operate.

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THE TOP TEN INGREDIENTS OF A SUCCESSFUL CULTURAL TRAINING COURSE

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

In this article aimed at those working in HR/Training /Learning & Development, Barry Tomalin outlines the key components of successful Cultural Training programmes.  Given the impact they can have on the way organisations and their people conduct business internationally, ensuring a maximum return on investment is essential.

1 HAVE CLEAR PRECISE AIMS

The general aim of a cross-cultural training course is usually clear. It is rarely precise.  The broad aim is to improve international performance in key markets or improve performance of international teams (either within the company premises or across borders).  Why the lack of precision?  I suspect it is because of ignorance.  Also much cross-cultural training is based on bad previous experience in the market and people don’t like to talk about it. 

In fact, a large amount of training is commissioned on the back of ‘We don’t want to go here again.’ But the trainer only finds this out DURING the training.

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Business Styles – Part 2 – India

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

One of the world’s largest economies and one of the world’s richest cultures with its own variety of English, India has a similar number of English speakers to those in the UK & America combined.  Yet many Westerners say they have difficulty communicating effectively with some Indian colleagues.  Here are ten tips you can use to help build successful working relationships.

TEN POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN DOING BUSINESS WITH INDIA

1 RECOGNISE INDIA

This is one of the first questions people ask you.  ‘What do you think of India?’ RECOGNISE THE VARIETY and richness of Indian culture – languages, communities, religions, cultures.

2 BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP

Show interest in people and the country.  Don’t click into task too fast. Indians ask personal questions as a way of getting to know you.  Don’t be shy.  Do the same.

3 EXERCISE PATIENCE

Advance deadlines wherever possible.  Be clear

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10 Common Mistakes when Doing Business in China and how to avoid them!

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Daisy Newton Dunn

China Cultural TrainingDaisy is a China specialist and resident of Shanghai with over 15 years experience  in producing and directing television programmes for international broadcasters including the BBC, PBS, Channel 4, ITV, FIVE and National Geographic.

 

In my last piece I wrote about the sometimes confusing mix of highly contemporary eye-catching architecture in China contrasting with a strong adherence to traditional beliefs and customs.  I would like to follow this up with a few specific examples of common mistakes people make when they are first doing business in China. After many meetings, frustrated de-briefs and 17 years of travel, here are my top ten:

1.The top mistake I see is people rushing to get the deal done! Don’t. In the west we like to draw up contracts quickly, get them signed and get down to business. In China, this isn’t always the case.  Huge importance is put on building relationships first and often it’s not the security of a signed contract that gets things moving, but rather the security of knowing the person you are working with is a trustworthy business partner.  It’s very important

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Keep it Simple! The Business Benefits of Plain English

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Jeff Heasman

Jeff Heasman

Jeff Heasman is the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Cavendish University and Course Director for TOLES (Test of Legal English Skills) in Sub-Saharan Africa.

 

 

Society is becoming more and more consumer orientated and with stiffer competition in all sectors, businesses really need to do what they can to ensure customer satisfaction and retention.  However, when looking at strategies to deal with these issues, one area that is often overlooked is how a business communicates with its clients.

I have already given my views in a previous post about how crucial correct grammar can be in business communication but vocabulary is also important.  In this regard, plain English is a must.   People no longer want correspondence from their professional advisor that is aimed at ‘impressing’ them.  Actually, it doesn’t impress people, it just creates distance.  Business communication should be about expressing, not impressing by using jargon, cliché and archaic language.  It has always amazed me how lawyers speak very differently in formal meetings to how they have expressed themselves in correspondence. 

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Business Styles – Part One – The Middle East

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

Last week I ran a very successful seminar on DOING BUSINESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST for the MIDDLE EAST ASSOCIATION. The Middle East, especially the Gulf and the Emirates are very positive growth areas with much greater liberalisation of foreign investment but you need to be sensitive to the cultural differences.

Obviously, many of those you deal with will have been educated in or be familiar with the UK or the US.  Also, traditionally, these countries have relied on foreign labour, particularly Indian and Pakistani, to run businesses. However, there are big changes as the Gulf states diversify their economies and increasingly try to involve their own citizens in the workforce. In Oman, for example, despite dependence on a predominantly South Asian workforce, the government is making determined efforts to find employment for local Omanis.

So, if you are doing business in the Arabian Gulf or working with Gulf colleagues, what cultural factors do you need

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National stereotypes can be a good thing too!

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

Stereotypes! Americans are loud, British are cold, Chinese are inscrutable.

That kind of thing.  When we meet a problem or setback in international meetings and negotiations we all tend to retreat into our views of national stereotypes. But what if those stereotypes were true?

There’s a saying in English.  ‘There’s no smoke without fire!’ Stereotypes had to come from somewhere,  otherwise,  why do we have them? We tend to avoid discussing stereotypes.

It’s not politically correct and we like to think we don’t adhere to them,  but if we’re honest, much of the time we do.

Stereotypes are dangerous.  They indicate fixed positions and they don’t allow room for movement and flexibility. Movement and flexibility are vitally important in international meetings and negotiations. Breaking the language barrier

When I hear the word  ‘stereotype’, I reach for my gun!

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10 Top Tips for Managing Meetings in a Foreign Language

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Barry Tomalin

Barry TomalinBarry Tomalin is SIMON & SIMON’s lead cultural and international communications consultant and the author of ‘The World’s Business Cultures and How to Unlock Them’ (Thorogood 2010)

 

Nowadays executives in and outside the UK have to ‘meet’ on the phone in audio ‘conference calls’ and, less often, video conferences in what is for them a second language.  They may be colleagues on the continent having to conduct meetings in English or English native speakers having to participate or run meetings in French or Spanish etc.

Naturally people find speaking in these situations in a second language more challenging than speaking face to face.  On a conference call you don’t have any of the visual signals or body language to help you communicate with and more easily understand the people you are listening to.

The great fear is that we may not be fully understood or fully understand what is being said to us,  and if we are leading the meeting the pressure can be even greater – at worst we may lose control of the situation and the confidence of those participating.

Is there anything

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