Global health organizations and medical / public health learning institutions are quickly realizing the difficulties often associated with ineffective communication.  They are understanding that providing services and information often is difficult and brings about complex communication challenges.  These challenges can lead to problems that incur financial cost, affect their reputation and hinder healthcare service delivery.  uBuntuSpeaks, LLC’s presentation and training services answer the fundamental questions they have when deciding to provide cross cultural communication competencies to their employees and learners in order to develop a cross and intercultural communication strategy:

• In what ways / to what extent is cross and intercultural communication an essential skill to our global health workforce and/or medical/public health learning institutions?
• How can the acquisition of cross and intercultural competencies assist in meeting our specific organizational and service delivery objectives?

Together, we create tailor-made, action-oriented solutions to answer:

1. What?– Define culturally specific terms such as: communication, culture, values, norms, beliefs and attitudes.  Explore participants’ perspective and meaning of these terms as it applies to their personal lives, jobs, and organization / corporation.  In addition, uncovering the personal communication styles participants use that are critical to their engagement with other individuals from varying and different cultural, geographical, and linguistic backgrounds.

2. So What?- Discuss the impact cultural specific values, norms, beliefs, attitudes, religious and laws may have on cross-cultural communication.  Understand the impact personal behavior and communication patterns have on communication across cultures, borders and languages.  Highlight the importance of shifting one’s perspective, viewing himself / herself as an intercultural communicator, developing an understanding of his / her own culture.  As well as being aware that the product or service that his/her organization and corporation offers can have cultural implications.  In addition, the manner all employees communicate with or about each other can impact the environment and overall culture of the organization or corporation.  Which can lead to decreasing employee satisfaction, innovation and services.  The justification for why the acquisition of effective cross and intercultural communication, conversational and emotional intelligence is needed, starts with understanding the factors that often inhibit successful communication. In addition, the 3 key factors needed to successfully manage the meaning of:  
   • Language and Culture
   • Language and Society
   • Restricted and elaborated language codes that different cultures possess

3. What Now?- The need to develop a comprehensive communication strategy that promotes effective communication across cultures within and outside of the workplace.  Identifying the various patterns of cultural differences and sharing 10 key strategies for effective cross and intercultural communication.  Next, sustaining an environment for global health and development professionals at all levels that are job specific, allowing them to practice skills, competencies, and intelligence acquired. Participants will complete a training, self assessment and feasibility survey.

Our training, presentations and keynote speeches are customized for global health organizational needs and target populations.  Together, we create tailor-made, action-oriented and hands on solutions to address one or more of the following concepts:

• Cultural Awareness, Sensitivity, Competency, and Health Practices
• Culture Shock and Adaptation
• Cross and Intercultural Modes of Communication
• Strategic  and Interpersonal Communication