Business Communication Skills || Cross-Cultural Competence || English
Proficiency
High-Effect with Low-Stress
WELCOME
Hello. I'm an
American with 25 years of experience training
German business people.
As an employee of Siemens AG, starting in 1985, I was responsible for their English intensive courses for
the middle and upper
management at the Siemens Management Training Center in Feldafing.
I was also involved with the first intercultural communication
seminar (created by Paul Dine and Dennis Clackworthy) offered at
Siemens: "Effective Communication with U.S. Business Partners".
Today I operate my own business,
Sonner Communication Training.
One thing that
sets SCT apart, I believe, is that SCT seminars have a combined focuson
Business Communication Skills,
Cross-Cultural
Competence, and
English Proficiency.
Another
special feature of SCT is the
learning atmosphere that is generated. People have told me many times that learning in a low-stress environment was a new experience for
them and that they liked it. But not only is it enjoyable, it is also
effective. Research has shown that optimum
learning takes place when the learner is interested and motivated to
learn but is not under extreme pressure to do so. This kind of "relaxed state of
alertness" is also the basis for success in Super Learning.
Finally, there are three types of SCT trainings:
SCT Open Seminarsare
available to
people from various organizations. For course descriptions, see the
next column to the right.
SCT Private Seminars are
available to existing teams. Scheduling,
duration, group size, and price are negotiable. Customized
trainings, where topics can be combined, are also available. For
course descriptions, see the next column to the right.
SCT Cross-Cultural Seminars
focus on the US-German business interface (differences based on
assumptions, attitudes, beliefs, norms, and values). Using video
input, roleplays, and discussions, German and/or US participants
discover ways to improve their understanding and performance when
cooperating with business people from the other culture.
If you would like to know more about any
of these training opportunities, click on the title in the next
column for a course
description or contact
us
here.
Let us begin to
work together toward a successful
training partnership.
Best regards,
Reid Sonner
Director of Training
Sonner Communication Training
This
2-day or 3-day seminar charts ways around the cross-cultural pitfalls
that await Germans and Americans who work together. This is a private seminar designed for Germans or
Americans or both.
OUR
PHILOSOPHY
SCT courses strive to be
...
MEANINGFUL
Beyond refreshing
their English skills, participants learn valuable business
communication skills, most of which can be applied in their own
language. These include strategies for improving negotiations,
presentations and the facilitation of meetings. Included also are
information and advice for practicing these skills in cross-cultural
settings.
ACTIVE In addition to
learning valuable skills, participants practice them. Simulated
situations and role plays
— negotiating, presenting,
discussing, facilitating, socializing, telephoning —
are a central part of the training.
and POSITIVE
Learning benefits from a good atmosphere, where
people are alert and relaxed at the same time. (Relaxed alertness is the
key to "superlearning" by the way.)
So, correction and feedback
—
not only what you need to improve but also what you did well —
are
given in
good humor.
The client decides with us which topics from
the various private seminars will be covered. The client also decides the length of the course,
the dates and the venue.
An opportunity for a team to practice
speaking on work-related topics and to sharpen their social skills
in English.
COACHING
Do you suddenly have an important
job assignment that must be done in English?
It could be ...
giving a
presentation,
attending a conference,
meeting with foreign contacts,
interviewing or
being interviewed,
participating in a
negotiation,
hosting important guests,
attending a social
event,
... or whatever your job may require.
If you would like some assistance with
your English accuracy or
cross-cultural
competence or specific communication skills, we can get together to help you prepare properly.
