Living and Working in Slovakia

Why Living and Working in Slovakia?  Having been controlled by the Communist regime for much of the latter part of the twentieth century until 1989, Slovakia is now making big steps towards improving its internal economy as well as its foreign business sector.  As a member of the European Union, Slovakia plans to adopt the Euro in 2009 which will further stabilise the nation.  Slovakia’s increased economic growth coupled with its low costs of labour make it an ideal location for potential business investments.   Knowledge of modern Slovakian culture and sensitivity to the complex social and business culture is critical for anyone living and working in Slovakia.

An international assignment in Slovakia is an effective way of taking advantage of this fast-growing economy, but living and working in Slovakia can be a challenging and stressful experience.  Failure to understand Slovakian culture or adapt to a new experience living and working in Slovakia can cause frustration and misunderstanding.  Understanding the differences betweenSlovakian culture and your own culture can lead to a smoother transition and more successful experience.  Communicaid’s Living and Working in Slovakia courses are designed to respond to the needs of international assignees by providing practical information and advice on the various aspects of living and working in Slovakia, as well as conveying an understanding of the underlying elements that shape Slovakian culture and business etiquette.

Benefits

 A Communicaid Living and Working in Slovakia course will provide you with:

• Detailed insight into Slovakian culture with an emphasis on the historical, economic, social and religious aspects
• Increased understanding of the impact of culture and ability to cope with cultural differences
• An awareness of Slovakian business culture and the values that influence them
• Useful information to enhance your overall experience living and working in Slovakia

Who should attend
           
Living and Working in Slovakia will be of benefit to you if you:

• Are about to relocate or have just relocated to Slovakia for business purposes
• Work on short-term assignments or projects in Slovakia
• Travel extensively to Slovakia for professional purposes

Course Content

All our Living and Working in Slovakia training courses are designed to meet the specific needs of our clients depending on their personal and/or organisational requirements and existing skills set.   A Living and Working in Slovakia course typically includes:

• A cultural profile of Slovakia including historical, political and economic background
• An understanding of the effect of Slovakia’s Soviet past and the current influence of the European Union on Slovakian society
• Key concepts and values in Slovakian society: family, hospitality, religion
• An understanding of Slovakian customs, traditions and heritage
• Tips for successfully adapting to life in a new environment and coping with culture shock
• Practical information on living and working in Slovakia
• Business and social etiquette in Slovakia
• Key Slovakian attitudes and values in business: formality, punctuality, hierarchy
• Management, presentation and negotiation styles and strategies for adapting your style
• Effective business communication in Slovakia: levels of directness, nonverbal communication
• Tips and strategies for overcoming obstacles to ensure you have a successful living and working in Slovakia

Approach

Living and Working in Slovakia courses 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 Living and Working in Slovakia course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy.

Living and Working in Slovakia Course Trainer

Your Living and Working in Slovakia trainer will be assigned to you following the results of your diagnostic consultancy according to your objectives and areas of focus.  Detailed below is a sample profile of a member of our Cultural Awareness Training team.

GA – Cultural Awareness Trainer – Slovakia

PhD in Sociology, Graduate School for Social Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
MA in Sociology, Lancaster University, UK

Canadian by birth, GA has extensive experience living, studying and working in Central/Eastern Europe.  He was a researcher in a major project gauging Slovak public opinion and press coverage on European Union integration in the run up to its 2004 accession and also worked for the International Organisation for Migrants and Central European University in Poland. 

His current research interest is cross-cultural management and as part of the research for his PhD dissertation, GA interviewed a number of Western managers and directors with experience working in Slovakia.  Recently GA conducted training sessions for a leading financial services company in the US on doing business in Slovakia and Poland.