Promoting intercultural skills in the team
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Raising the team's cultural awareness at an early stage and promoting employees' skills helps to avoid misunderstandings when working with international colleagues and to communicate successfully.
Intercultural training
Intercultural training has established itself as an effective means of preparing employees specifically for the challenges of diverse teams and therefore also for international colleagues.
Intercultural training can raise awareness of cultural differences. However, they are basically aimed at raising general awareness of different ways of seeing, behaving and communicating with people. They help participants to better understand values, behaviors and communication styles that differ from their own mentality and to react appropriately.
Typical contents of intercultural training courses are
Imparting basic knowledge on the topics of "culture" and "communication"
Raising awareness of one's own (cultural) influences and their impact on behavior
Developing strategies for conflict resolution and dealing with (cultural) misunderstandings
Practical exercises on perception and assessment of situations, changing perspectives and communication
Promoting openness, empathy and respect in dealing with other people
There are various providers in Saxony that offer workshops on intercultural awareness. Well-known public providers include Wirtschaft für ein Weltoffenes Sachsen e. V., ARBEIT UND LEBEN Sachsen e. V. and the Netzwerk für Demokratie und Courage e. V. (NDC).
Simple language
Simple language can build a bridge, especially if you employ people with different native languages. Simple Language is aimed at people who are learning German as a foreign language and are constantly improving their language skills.
You can support your international employees in learning German, especially in understanding everyday and technical language. Provide important information in plain language, e.g. health and safety instructions.
AI-based tools, which are also available specifically for translation into plain language, can help you with the formulation.
You can find offers and training courses on plain language from experts, for example at the Office for Plain Language at Lebenshilfe Sachsen e. V. or the Competence Center for Plain Language and Simple Language at LSJ Sachsen e. V.
The following will give you an initial insight into the use of plain language.
Guidelines for the use of plain language:
Speak slowly and clearly, but not louder than usual.
Repeat what you have said and allow sufficient time to respond.
Use easily understandable and familiar words.
Always use the same words for the same things.
Use short words. Separate complex words, e.g. compound words, with hyphens.
Use short sentences and simple sentence structure. Avoid complicated grammar.
Write out abbreviations or explain them the first time you use them.
Point out technical terms and explain them the first time you use them.
Avoid idioms, figurative language and irony.
Avoid dialect and explain regional expressions.
