South Africa is a country of rich diversity. Shaped by a vast array of indigenous populations and years of colonial rule, South African society is a unique blend of cultures, languages and beliefs. As the African continent’s most advanced and progressive country, South Africa has made enormous improvements both socially and economically in recent years making it an increasingly attractive country for international business opportunities and investments. Living and working in South Africa is an exciting but challenging prospect as it requires an understanding of this extremely diverse society and the rules and behaviours which permeate every aspect of South African culture. Without this understanding, an international assignment in South Africa may result in frustrations, misunderstandings and unsuccessful business endeavours.

Communicaid’s Living & Working in South Africa 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 South Africa, as well as conveying an understanding of the underlying elements that shape South African culture both inside and outside the workplace.

Benefits

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

- A comprehensive overview of South African culture including historical, social, economic and religious background information
- An improved understanding of the diversity of South African society
- Key communication tools and skills to understand—and respond to— business and social subtleties and nuances of South African culture
- An awareness of culture and country shock—and strategies for coping with it
- Essential practical information to improve your experience of living and working in the South Africa

Who should attend

Living and Working in South Africa will be of benefit to you if you:

- Are about to relocate or have just relocated to South Africa for business purposes
- Work on short-term assignments or projects in South Africa for periods at a time

Course Content

All of our Living and Working in South Africa 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 South Africa course typically includes:
- Managing culture and country shock
- Preconceptions and stereotypes of South Africa
- South African people and South African society
- Practical information on living in South Africa
- Tips on South African social etiquette
- Attitudes and values in South African business culture
- Management and negotiation styles in South Africa
- Effective business communication in South Africa
- South African business etiquette and working practices
- Tips and strategies for successful living and working in South Africa

Approach

Living and Working in South Africa 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 South Africa course will be discussed during your diagnostic consultancy.

Living and Working in South Africa Course Trainer

Your Living and Working in South Africa 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.

KT

KT is an international cross-cultural trainer, an experienced international speaker and training developer. An American citizen, permanently based in South Africa for over ten years, she has lived and worked in three continents and visited over forty countries.

KT recently finished her master's degree in cultural anthropology from the University of Pretoria. Her professional experience includes director of leadership development for an international organisation where she created a programme of training senior leaders, research consultant for an international company where she helped develop strategies for training leaders working across cultures, and lecturer and trainer for group and interpersonal relationships in the complex racial and cultural theatre of South Africa.

KT has delivered programmes on living and working in South Africa for Communicaid to Cadbury Schweppes delegates recently relocated to Johannesburg.