Why Doing Business in Switzerland? Located at the crossroads of northern and southern Europe, Swiss culture varies dramatically by region and is richly affected by the countries surrounding it. Switzerland’s thriving economy, skilled labour force, and reputation for excellence in business and manufacturing have inspired over 1,000 multinational corporations to establish European headquarters in its picturesque towns and cities. The 1.9 million foreign residents living in Switzerland (about 20% of the population) are testament to the country’s receptivity to globalisation and international influences.
When doing business in Switzerland, it is critical to demonstrate behaviour that is in keeping with the etiquette and cultural expectations of the Swiss professional environment. Awareness and respect for the specific elements of Swiss culture are key factors in developing successful business strategies and productive working relationships. Communicaid’s Doing Business in Switzerland cultural awareness courses are ideal for professionals and teams who need to build more successful business relationships with Swiss colleagues, partners and clients. A Doing Business in Switzerland course will provide you with the tools to maximise the competitive advantage of doing business in Switzerland through a mixture of in-depth background information and hands-on practical tips and solutions.
Benefits
Communicaid’s Doing Business in Switzerland courses will provide you with:
- A clear understanding of Swiss business culture, etiquette, and key drivers that motivate
Swiss business counterparts
- Heightened awareness of the four language groups and the unique features of eachTips to ensure successful business relations with your Swiss colleagues and clients
- Practical strategies for doing business more effectively with Swiss counterparts
- Better understanding of potential business challenges and solutions for doing business in
Switzerland
Who should attend
A Communicaid Doing Business in Switzerland course will be of benefit to you if you are:
- Considering doing business in Switzerland
- Establishing partnerships with Swiss business counterparts
- Experiencing the challenges of doing business in Switzerland
- Employing Swiss nationals within your business organisation
Course content
All our Doing Business in Switzerland training courses are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients depending on their particular requirements and existing skills set. A Doing Business in Switzerland course typically includes:
- Overview of Swiss culture: history, language communities and unifying traditions
- Key industries and Switzerland’s role within Europe
- Swiss business culture and attitudes: formality, structured time, and consensus-building
- Management and working styles for doing business in Switzerland
- Communication, meeting and negotiation styles in Swiss companies
- Challenges and practical solutions for doing business in Switzerland
Approach
Doing Business in Switzerland programmes are available seven days a week, 365 days a year, either at one of our training centres in London, Paris, Frankfurt and New York or at your offices in any location worldwide. We usually recommend a one or two day course but can also offer a more flexible format to suit your schedule.
Suitably tailored materials will be used throughout your course and your trainer will provide a balance of structured input and discussion of case studies and scenarios relevant to your own particular context.
The most appropriate training format, content and approach for your Doing Business in Switzerland course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy.
Doing Business in Switzerland Course Trainer
Your Doing Business in Switzerland trainer will be assigned to you following the results of your diagnostic consultancy according to your objectives and areas of focus. Detailed below is the profile of a member of our Swiss culture training team.
HRR – Cultural Awareness Trainer – Switzerland Specialist
BA (Hons) in Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Strathclyde
MSc. in International Tourism Management, Manchester Metropolitan University
HRR combines a strong business focus with in-depth knowledge of hospitality, tourism and academic quality assurance, particularly in relation to the Swiss markets. She has lived and worked in Switzerland for over ten years allowing her to develop excellent communication and cultural skills. She speaks fluent German and some French.
A British national, HRR has lectured at IMI, Luzern, one of the top hotel schools in Switzerland, since 1996. She is now Deputy Principal which involves strategic planning, development and implementation as well as academic management and administration. She has also developed international academic and business partnerships. Her particular areas of interest include Swiss and international tourism, consumer behaviour in tourism and how culture affects tourism. She also guest lectures in Malaysia and Singapore. She has delivered Living & Working in Switzerland and Doing Business in Switzerland to a number of Communicaid’s major clients. |
Cross-cultural
training 
