1-month communication training for 108 managers in preparation for going overseas on business
PROJECT TYPE
Corporate training
CLIENT
CRRC
COURSE
Talents Development Programme 2019
PROJECT OVERVIEW
The programme overview
To support efforts of internationalisation and sustainable growth, CRRC is committed to training 10,000 employees as a component of China’s 13th Five Year Plan. For the 4th year of cooperation, this programme was designed to equip training participants with core communication skills needed when leading teams in an international context. The programme objectives included (i) developing ability to recognise core business topics from both China and Western perspectives, (ii) reinforcing core skillsets for managing cross-cultural business relationships, (iii) improving participant cultural awareness and interpersonal skills, and (iv) ensuring all training participants can clearly and confidently communicate in English.
The client
Deliverables
- 15 customised training workshops delivered to 6 separate groups of 18 participants
- 4 project assignments
Participants
- 108 managers from across mainland China
Location
Suzhou, China
Course 1: Communication fundamentals
The purpose of this 4-workshop theme is to help participants understand their own communication style and how to communicate across character, functional and cultural differences. Basic agenda of the 3 workshops will cover:
- Understanding your own communication style,
- Flexing to communicate across different communication styles,
- Cross-cultural communication: within specific context on UK rail network
Course 2: Speaking to influence
The purpose of this 3-workshop theme is to help participants to develop their persuasive communication skills. In the 3rd workshop, participants will need to deliver a presentation that convincingly introduces themselves and CRRC. Basic agenda of the 3 workshops will cover:
- Conveying confidence: body and spatial awareness,
- Impromptu speech
- Graded group assignment: Corporate presentation
Course 3: Written communications
This 4-workshop theme involved participants engaging in two formal assignments. The assignment was introduced with guidance during workshop A, whereas workshop B provided feedback from the training.
- The first assignment involved participants responding to an email complaint from an overseas manager and asked to provide a written response with an appropriate course of action.
- The second assignment involved participants writing a 2-page risk assessment on an aspect of pre-determined overseas market.
Course 4: Pre-overseas mindset preparations
This 4-workshop theme focused on preparing participants for what to expect prior to going overseas. Whilst CRRC is an icon of national pride in China, its overseas reputation is quite different. Workshops covered:
- Exploring how CRRC is portrayed in overseas markets
- Stakeholder analysis of target markets
- Group debate around current affairs in rail industry
- Group activity, wherein participants research and identify methods for developing personal and professional networks whilst overseas