“No Culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive.” – Mahatma Gandhi
ACS knows first hand that cultural competency is one of the most challenging aspects of operating globally. A strong foundation of cultural competence and proficiency is mission critical in building, operating, and succeeding beyond the homeland. A lack of sufficient competency can put any operation on the fast track to mission failure
The ACS team has 80 years of combined experience implementing programs and operating successfully in Eastern Europe, Far East, Middle East, North Africa, and Sub Sahara Africa. Our team knows firsthand how to deliver effective cultural training, coaching, and mentorship that clearly illustrate the complexity of the current operating environment, help develop geo-political and cultural insights, and nurture an appreciation and understanding for cultures outside of the United States; all necessary cultural competencies required for success.
Being culturally astute is not a “one size fits all” cookie-cutter skill. What drives success in one environment may be ineffective, or cause harm, in another. ACS offers a fully customized multi-layered learning experience tailored to the specific cultures, goals, objectives, and strategic messages of clients. We create unique training packages that focus on developing an understanding of specific cultures, regional issues that influence behaviors, relevant histories, and the complexities of navigating successfully when immersed in the new environment. Understanding is only the first step, clients must further be able to apply this learning in their performance objectives, know how to make necessary behavioral adjustments, and demonstrate the ability to provide the required end-state while building a relationship that lends to future business or mission success.
We are the experts. Our team of interagency experts and field practitioners provide expertise in conflict, politics, development, counternarcotics, and disaster relief among other areas. ACS delivers customized training, workshops, and products internationally. After a thorough analysis of client needs and objectives we map out key areas that might affect or are affecting smooth operations and work together to generate strategies and create training solutions that include:
- Cultural Profiles– Demographics, religious breakdowns, dominant languages, political landscapes, and general cultural understanding. We build cultural profiles of the target countries and respective regions, tracking general propensities in areas such as decision-making, communication (verbal and non verbal), negotiation styles, and orientations to time, risk and hierarchy. We are further capable of providing specific host-nation participant profiles.
- Surface Culture vs. Deep Culture– In order to really know a new culture, it is necessary to understand the distinction between surface culture and deep culture. Surface culture refers to the observable behaviors (habits, customs, mannerisms, etc.) and physical objects (artifacts, literature, tools, etc.) associated with a group of people. Deep culture refers to the commonly accepted attitudes and beliefs shared by a group of people. These two components should not be viewed separately as they are very much intertwined. Understanding any culture requires not only knowledge of its surface features but also some knowledge of the deeper, shared pool of attitude and belief which is often passed from one person to another.
- Awareness Training– We provide a full range of tailored data, gathered by experienced country specialists, on issues such as protocol, etiquette, greetings, entertaining, tipping, gift-giving, meetings, working in established relationships, and more.
- Simulation – We tailor case studies and create real world scenarios to match client objectives, that allow participants to identify where cultural differences can block successful interactions. We tailor case studies to match industry/company realities.
- Achievement Plans– Cultural learning must be put into actions toward real business objectives. We work with participants in creating real work action plans for key tasks/responsibilities they need to accomplish to be effective in a global environment. We work together to identify the dimensions of cultural difference which may require modification of approaches to ensure absolute success.
Additional products and workshop include: Managing multi-cultural team effectiveness; Country Briefings, Developing material for international audience; Presentation skills.