Short. Practical. Immediately useful.
During 2027 we offer a series of 2-hour live virtual workshops for professionals and small teams working across cultures in Australia, Asia and beyond. Each session tackles one real-world intercultural challenge. There’s no heavy theory and no lengthy time away from your desk. You bring a situation from your own work, and you leave with tools you can use the next day.
Why a 2-hour workshop?
- Fits your calendar: one part of the morning, no travel
- One topic, one problem: focused on what you need right now
- Real cases, not textbook theory: bring your own challenges and situations, and we work on them together
- Small groups: interaction, questions and practice, not a webinar
- Take-away toolkit: practices, skills and strategies
- Join as an individual or bring your team
Format
Live on MS Teams | 2 hours | Small groups | AUD 125.00 per person (exclusive of GST) | Team rates available from 3 participants
We email the calendar invite with joining instructions once payment has been received
Choose Your Workshop.
1. Why Did They Say That? Decoding Intercultural (Mis)Communication
Stop guessing what “yes”, “maybe” and silence really mean, and make intercultural communication more effective
Culture impacts the way we perceive communication. Misunderstandings between people therefore rarely come from language alone. They come from different assumptions about directness, hierarchy, harmony and saying “no”. In this session you’ll learn to spot the signals behind the words and adjust your style so your message lands as intended.
You’ll leave with:
- Tools to read between the lines: Simple ways to map cultural differences in emails, meetings and calls
- Perspective-taking skills: A practical lens for seeing how culture influences workplace communication
- Insight into your own style: Your personal communication profile, based on the action type profiler
- Strategies for tricky conversations: Ways to handle formality, respect and trust-building with confidence
Ideal for:
Anyone who works with colleagues, partners or clients from other cultural backgrounds
2. Every Customer Counts: Serving Multicultural Customers with Confidence
Every interaction with a customer is shaped by culture – turn cultural differences into better service and stronger loyalty.
Customers differ in what they expect from service, how they voice complaints and what builds trust. When these differences go unrecognised, even well-intentioned service can lead to miscommunication and frustration. Learn to recognise these differences and respond in ways that make every customer feel understood, without relying on stereotypes.
You’ll leave with:
- See beyond the obvious: Understand values, practices and expectations that drive customer behaviour.
- Navigate trust, authority and conflict: Know what different customers expect from you and why.
- Prevent problems before they start: Listen actively, reflect back and ask questions that surface misunderstandings.
- Adjust in the moment: Adapt to different approaches, handle complaints confidently and avoid the cultural pitfalls.
Ideal for:
Anyone who provides multicultural customer service, e.g. sales, front-line, or client-facing teams
3. Leading Across Cultures: Getting the Best from a Multicultural Team
Every leadership decision you make is filtered through culture, often without you realising it. One leadership style doesn’t fit all.
Do you know how culture impacts the way your team members like to be managed? Do they rarely speak up or dominate meetings, do they expect more direction or do they fight micromanaging? Often, different cultural expectations of leadership are the cause. This workshop gives you practical ways to delegate, give feedback, motivate, and build trust with your team.
You’ll leave with:
- Know your perspective and your style: Spot biases and communication habits that shape how you lead others.
- Understand what your team expects from you: How do team members from different cultures view leadership.
- Give feedback that works across cultures: Use techniques for setting expectations and giving appropriate feedback.
- Solve real team challenges: Test leadership practices against situations your team faces and build your own action plan.
Ideal for:
Anyone who manages culturally diverse people, e.g. team leaders, project leads, and managers
Bring this workshop to your team
Want one of these topics just for your team, or a different intercultural challenge entirely? We offer private, tailored 2-hour workshops at a time that suits you. [Enquire about a team session]
About your facilitator
Joost Thissen, Founding Partner of Culture Resource Centre, has spent over 27 years helping organisations turn cultural differences into working advantages. A Dutch-born business sociologist and former MBA lecturer, she combines academic depth with hands-on facilitation experience. In these new 2-hour workshops, she tackles one specific intercultural challenge at a time, so you leave with tools you can use immediately.