Working with the Japanese
Objectives
- Develop a solid understanding of the Japanese mentality and business culture
- Understand how your way of communicating and behaving may be interpreted in Japan
- Acquire practical strategies for working more effectively with the Japanese
- Identify concrete steps to enhance your ability to influence and negotiate across cultures
Who should attend?
- Managers of companies looking to expand their business activities into the Japanese market
- Individuals and teams who regularly work with Japanese colleagues and business partners
- Sales representatives and purchasing agents
- Marketing professionals
Duration
This is a 2-day course.
Course content
1/ Foundations of Japanese culture
- Key geopolitical, historical and geographical factors
- Religions of Japan and their social and cultural impact
- Key features of the Japanese language
- The Japanese society today
2/ Key cultural dimensions to measure cultural gaps and similarities
- Low and high power distance
- Uncertainty avoidance and acceptance
- Individualist and collectivist cultures
- Ways of thinking
- Monochronic and polychronic time orientations
- Low and high context communication
- Duty and honour codes
3/ Commucating effectively with the Japanese
- Greetings and titles
- Welcoming rituals
- Business cards
- Non-verbal communication: eye contact, personal space, gestures and physical contact
- Verbal communication: Implicit messages, the meaning of “yes”
- Influencing techniques
4/ The business world in Japan
- Types of Japanese companies
- Management and leadership styles
- Teamwork
- Decision-making
- Hierarchy and respect for age
- Giving and saving face
- Meetings
- Motivational levers
- Women in the workplace
- Socialising and networking
5/ Decision-making and team/project management
- Nemawashi and decision-making
- Preparing for your first key project
6/ Negotiating agreements
- Preparing for a negotiation
- Adopting the right posture
- Oral vs. Written agreements
7/ Top tips and personal action plan