Michaela Grueva

... It's a lovely sunny morning at the office. Friday. A bit after 10.

Due to uncommon lack of work you have already reorganized your desk twice so far: once by color and once alphabetically and none of them seemed to work just right. Totally bored, now you're just staring at the clock waiting for the long-coveted lunchbreak with cheese sandwiches and Jenny from the second floor.

And then - BAM!

Database failure. The image of Jenny eating sandwiches slowly starts to fade away facing this ridiculous software problem which obviously cannot be solved without Josh, the IT guru in the office.

(for the sake of the story, his desk is conveniently placed right next to yours).

In a desperate attempt to catch the lunchbreak you turn over to him and say in an almost shrieking voice: "Josh. Help. My computer's down and I cannot hand over my project. And I need it by noon."

The answer just slaps you in the face: "No"

Sounds familiar?

Yet, what you don't know about this situation is that Josh may as well be German.

And here's when it gets interesting:

In Germany you normally write an e-mail to your colleagues so that you don't interrupt them while working. Makes sense, right?

Find out more about cultural differences and how to cope with them at our trainings.

General Trainings

Basic training:
"The communication play."

In our dynamic world it is getting more and more important not only which professional competencies and skills you have acquired but moreover how you communicate them and how you communicate with your colleagues.

Soft skills, as for example to hear actively, to bring out one's needs prove to be crucial for the professional success. For this reason...

Basic training:
"Successful with international partners."

Professionals who are working internationally encounter with people from various cultures. Intercultural encounters are similar to two eisbergs who colide. When you arrive into a new country or when you work with partners from different cultures you notice that things don't work as you are normally used to. The conversations follow another pattern, work is organized differently, communication with the co-workers and the seniors follows unknown rules. Everybody carries one's own culture as a snail its house and it influences the thinking and the behavior.

Exactly as the others. And then the colidation takes place. For that reason ...

Culture Specific Trainings

Trainings can be offered regarding the following countries and regions:

Bulgaria

You are starting a new job in Bulgaria or you are already in the country. Slowly you have the feeling that the cooperation with your Bulgarian colleagues isn't working as smoothly as you expected.

Bulgarians behave in a strange manner. They won't follow your precise instructions as well as for them occurs more important to talk to their colleagues then to get to work.

They are really friendly; nevertheless you experience difficulties to understand what moves and motivates them. You need some insider tips, how to get along with Bulgarians and be efficient at your work place.

The series "Bulgaria for Germans" consists of two workshops:

Bulgaria - how to be effective at the workplace?
The insider tips and tricks.

Bulgaria - how to get along with Bulgarians?
The insider tips and tricks.

Germany

You reside in Germany since not long ago or live and work here for a while. You have personal and professional contact with Germans at your workplace or in the univer-sity. And you experience over and over situations where you don't understand why your German acquaintances behave and react in a particular way.

This workshop will offer you a practical orientation in the communication and work with German colleagues, as well as concrete strategies for problem solution.

The series "Germany for East - Europeans" consists of two workshops

How to communicate and work successfully with Germans?
The insider tips and tricks.

How to apply successfully for a job in Germany?
The insider tips and tricks.

Eastern Europe

Between the Occident and the Orient. Eastern Europe between two conceptions for the world. How to reconcile these two worlds and how to become successful in the particular country.