8 May 2008

Communicating effectively across cultures

The spread of information, culture and people is seeing the boundaries that have historically separated one country or one group from another becoming more blurred.

What challenges do cultural differences in the workplace bring business communicators? How can media and messages be used most effectively to engage a multi-cultural audience? How does what we say and what we mean matter?

This month’s Aspic workshop, run by the Item Group, is designed to help communicators meet the challenges of communicating in a world in which, increasingly, we have to interact with people who don’t see the world in the same way.

Two speakers will share their experiences in communicating in culturally diverse organisations.

Janet Croissant is Head of Group Internal Communications, Transport for London. TfL employs a ‘workforce that aims to reflect the diverse population of London’. Janet will explain how the organisation’s communicators are reaching out to its 21,500 employees and role modelling diversity against a challenging physical environment.

Meanwhile, Dave Morris, Senior Internal Communication manager at O2, discusses the importance of communication and engagement in strengthening the relationship between O2 and its parent company Telefónica, and how values help to drive communication in a dynamic and customer-centric business.

The interactive session on 15 May will be run by communications and culture specialists Sheila Hirst and Domna Lazidou who have worked extensively with international companies in this area.

To book: email suzanne.peck@item.co.uk or go to www.aspic.co.uk