Cultivating Clarity
Vienna and Being Nice Isn’t Enough!
Being Nice Isn’t Enough!
I trust you’re enjoying the balmy days of a late European summer, or, the fresh new days of a Spring!
I personally fled the wet and wild Goa-n monsoon in June. It was simply too stormy, turbulent and grey for me. In exchange, I enjoyed the South African bush winter of crisp blue skies warmed by rays of sunshine. I also covered about 5000km’s in road tripping and rhino patrolling. It was a glorious time with family and friends. I had to add a bit of body padding with the help of delicious home-made bakes and cakes!
The last 2 months have also been very exciting in the sense that I have submitted my book proposal to a few publishers in the US and UK. I recieved – albeit very direct – guiding and encouraging feedback! I feel more confident (I have no choice because giving up at this point is certainly not an option) and currently re-working some of the pointers given by the publishers. Here’s a snippet:
Being Nice Isn’t Enough is an “undo” book (with illustrations by Karin Hofmann).
Have you ever left a meeting or negotiation wishing you could undo some of the things you said?
Have you ever walked out of an argument wishing you could undo your last statement? Do you feel perplexed, peeved or plagued by cross-cultural misunderstandings? Are you “rolling your inner eye” at seemingly sloppy operations, and getting vexed by others’ disregard for timelines and bogged down by long decision making processes? If yes it might be (high) time to undo some of your “tried and tested” ways of doing things.
Being Nice Isn’t Enough takes an untypical turn-things-on-their-head approach to why people do what they do in foreign and unfamiliar situations. It illustrates what can go wrong and why you end up with unintended, undesired outcomes. It achieves this supporting you in undoing unhelpful habits, undoing unsupportive behaviour and un-cluttering communication which, if left unattended, lead to unprofitable cross-cultural business activities.
Being Nice Isn’t Enough, is an international business communication book for readers who work with culturally diverse teams or across borders. It is also written especially for the non-native English reader. Without dumb-ing it down too much Being Nice Isn’t Enough is written in a narrative and witty tongue-in-cheek style merging the author’s real time personal and business experiences with researched theory. It provides insights and answers to many cross-cultural questions.
How? You will be nudged into “undoing”
- age-old survival strategies you’ve inherited, learned, cultivated which show up as your core values, beliefs and unconscious triggers about your assumed cultural identification
- how you use your language and ideas on words like manipulate, trust, respect and nice
- what you think you know about others and what engages and scares you and them.
Being Nice Isn’t Enough is packed with thought provoking “undos”, practical how to tips and tools as well as simple and fun illustrations.
By undoing a lot of what you have been thinking, saying and doing, this book is going to impact what you get as opposed to what you want. It will change the way you do business and how you communicate and connect with others – no matter who and no matter where.
Please hold your thumbs for my Being Nice Isn’t Enough!
I (really) look forward to seeing you between the 12th of September and the 9th of November in Vienna, and remember that my diary is almost full so if you would like me to spend some time with you, contact me now!
Stay safe and remember to keep sparkling!
Autumn in Austria!
Returning to Vienna this Autumn!
“creating confident communicators – cultivating collaborative conversation”
Taking bookings now from 12th September to 9th November 2016
Goa has been and still is good!
A sense-ual celebration of the visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory elements – colorful and kaleidoscopic; bold and brassy; hot and humid; aromatic and acrid; delicious and delightful! And at best, confusing!
Here’s something really funny and absolutely true when it comes to their “language” – verbal and nonverbal. I still have to check for understanding!
Getting on with everyday things have also been a challenging daily reminder of how much curiosity, clarity and understanding cross cultural communicators need. Curiosity is certainly very supportive in order to cultivate collaboration through communication. Wouldn’t you like to know how?
Speaking of clarity – while the skies are blue and there are many more hours in your day – I need to make hay! Please remember to plan and fix your skills and language appointments for Autumn, ASAP!
You know how the saying goes – if you snooze you lose!
Wishing you happy days and a sensational summer! Hester
Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Communication
Cross-Cultural Collaboration & Communication
Good manners, sharing a common language and Being Nice (simply) Isn’t Enough to ensure success in your cross-cultural collaboration.
Cross-cultural Collaboration
- goes deeper than a “when in Rome do as the Romans do” attitude
- can only happen through connection and clarity in conversation
- starts with looking at your own mindset, beliefs, fears and attitude.
- means having a deeper understanding your own culture and values
This is easier said than done. Many well intended “universal” applications like being nice, treating everyone the same, sharing a common language and expert technical know-how – that worked out well in one setting – turn out badly or fail completely in another.
Expensive business suits, corporate smiles and fancy titles don’t guarantee collaboration. Success in your own domestic market doesn’t guarantee it in another. Breakdowns in communication and collaboration happen and well planned business dealings go wrong. Why?
Get your Intercultural Communication Competence brochure!
Cross-Cultural Savvy means you…
- have core competencies in profiling people and cultures
- strive for clarity in your communication
- can focus on goals but are flexible on approaches
- are able to balance transparency with harmony
- are open to learn from others and appreciate diversity
- inclusive in your dealings – no “us” vs. “them”
- eager to co-create new ideas and solutions, and
- can prevent, resolve and create trust in conflict
What happens?
- We activate the Connect. Communicate. Co-create. action by delivering content designed with passion!
- We make your knowledge acquisition experiential and therefore memorable!
- We create bespoke illustrated company relevant handbooks containing expert solutions for your unique requirements.
Who is this for?
You. Your team or company.Especially if you are an international project manager or business leader in charge of culturally diverse teams.
What you get
If you are interested in getting personal C-CS coaching contact Hester.
If you are interested in getting C-CS for your team or company you will get our:
- Passion Planning Program. This includes bespoke solutions designed specifically for your company/team such as survey analysis, consultation, seminars/workshops and follow-up coaching sessions.
- Storytelling – the Training Program which includes
keynote talks, seminars/workshops boosted with real time graphic recording and visualisation of content if you want.
- Visual Wording – the Handout Program which is a company relevant handbook containing your very own intercultural encounters, with practical how to’s and explanations, as well as illustrations.
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