Seminar unlocks business communication for expats

A recent UBS Wealth Management report stated that expats have become a key driver of economic expansion in Switzerland, a trend which has been on the rise for several years as witnessed by the increasing influence of organisations such as Léman Events and Expat-Expo, which cater directly to the business needs of the expat.

Nonetheless, specific hurdles – such as language barriers and local customs – in a foreign environment require thoughtful adaptation and specialised knowledge.

"To network in a proper way is more than putting a business card under someone’s nose," Léman Events boss, Jos van Megchelen told Swisster ahead of the group’s Connect seminar scheduled on May 6 at the Ecole Hôtelière in Lausanne, a gathering intended to help English-speaking expats successfully negotiate cultural minefields when doing business here.

"It requires some rules to follow for international etiquette," she added.

Some years ago I was warned by a Swiss that failure to wear a recognized, and preferably expensive, brand of watch might harm my job interview chances.

And while this particular proviso should be treated with suspicion, it’s clear that, like in any country, there lurks a number of hidden and often seemingly innocent ways to fall on your face or, more importantly, blow the contract

Next week’s day-long seminar (for 20-30 participants) features the presence of Barry Wilson, former president of Medtronic, as a guest speaker who is scheduled to share his international and especially Swiss experiences, in communication and doing business with different cultures.

"I’ve lived in 12 countries and travelled in 120 and working with both patients and doctors has taught me a lot about dealing with people," Wilson told Swisster.

André Mack, director of the Lausanne Hospitality Consultancy, will also be providing insights. Seminar topics include verbal and non-verbal communication, the latter a subtle science which, if better understood, can shed light on a client’s true feelings or provide you with skills to put him or her at ease.

Techniques of active listening, the do’s and don’ts of customer dialogue and the importance of a first impression are also on the agenda.

While some Anglo-Saxons have the reputation for expecting everyone to use English, van Megchelen – originally from the Netherlands – advocates a more flexible approach.

"If you are in business, you should be open minded and look at who your customers are. If this requires that you learn Chinese, then learn Chinese," she said.

"Always find out who your customer is and ask yourself: ‘What do I need to do to get him or her as a client?’ Here in Switzerland, it is the same," she added.

The seminar is aimed at a broad audience. "Although it’s organized basically for business men and women of all management levels, this is also very useful for people who are new in the country and need some skills in international communication to feel at ease in their new environment," stressed van Megchelen.

Together with business partner Melania Quinn, van Megchelen organises events such as the Léman Expat Fair scheduled in October at the Palais de Beaulieu in Lausanne.

"The Expat Fair showed us that there is a need to improve some skills in communication, marketing and networking with consumers. This seminar will guide participants, not only on how to find clients but more importantly, how to keep them," she said.

Seminar places were still available at the time of writing.