In today’s global economy, cultural competency in the workplace is critical to achieve a competitive advantage. Our cross-cultural programs and individual coaching will help you recognize the dynamics of working across cultures by bridging gaps in awareness, knowledge and skills. Program participants reflect on their own practices and approaches and examine how effective these are in the targeted country, in order to meet company or project objectives.

MJCC’s programs and coaching take participants beyond the basic do’s and taboos to examine the assumptions and values behind behavior. Our interactive curriculum utilizes workplace research, hands-on experience and adult-education techniques. A pre-program needs assessment allows us to customize the program, based on the specific experiences, interests, concerns and needs of the participants.

The length of the trainings or coaching sessions can be tailored to the client’s needs, but the minimum is a four-hour session for training and four, one-hour sessions for coaching. Brownbag lunch presentations can also be arranged. The size of the groups in training will depend upon the type of program desired and client’s needs.

All of the programs below are available either in English or in Spanish.

PROGRAM SAMPLES

1. Expatriates; Selection, Relocation, and Repatriation
2. Cross-Cultural Competence in Business
3. Cultural Diversity Awareness
4. Hispanic/Latino Workforce in the USA
5. Teaching Culture along with English as a Second Language
6. Cross-Cultural Couples
7. Building Bridges in Multi-Cultural Communities
8. Global Leadership & Management Skills

1. Expatriate Programs ·return to program list·

1a. Pre-departure Assessment and Selection (to any country)
This program helps companies and organizations evaluate the suitability and adaptation potential of candidates and their family members, before they leave for an international assignment. Trainers will access the motives and goals that the candidates have, as well as their adaptability experiences and skills to succeed.

1b. International Relocation
Moving overseas is a great challenge, but it is also a tremendous opportunity for personal and professional growth. In this program, we facilitate the success of relocating employees and their families, by helping participants analyze the target culture and reflect upon the process of adapting to a new environment. We will explore cultural differences and how they will affect daily life and doing business in the target culture.

Relocated employees can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support culture specific leadership development in the target county.

A separate session is available for children above seven years old and adolescents.

1c. Repatriating Employees
Returning to your own culture is a process that can sometimes be more difficult than the process of adapting to a new country. This program prepares repatriating employees and their families for “reverse culture shock,” and helps them integrate their international experience back into the organization and their new lives in their own country.

2. Cross-Cultural Competence in Business ·return to program list·

2a. Global Cultural Awareness Programs
Participants will gain an understanding of the process of globalization and the global and international company. They will also increase their understanding of how culture influences business activities such as negotiations, communication (verbal and non-verbal), supervision, motivation, team building, and virtual team collaboration. Participants will use tools to identify and manage cultural differences to maximize communication and collaboration across borders.

2b. Doing Business with Mexico or the United States (or other specific countries).
We will explore the main challenges of working with the target culture. Through self assessments, case studies and interactive activities, participants will learn important historic and contemporary socio-economic perspectives and conditions of the target culture. They will also explore cultural values, assumptions and business culture itself, including the current challenges of virtual teams and commuting between the two countries.

2c. Cross-Cultural Team-Building
Participants will discuss cultural differences that help and hinder communication among the team; participate in building a synergistic team; and identify strategies to meet teamwork challenges. This program is geared towards strengthening organizational identity, relationships, cooperation, cohesion and productivity within multicultural teams.

2d. The Mexican American or Hispanic/Latino working in Mexico
The challenging attitude of many Mexicans towards Mexican Americans working at a U.S. company in Mexico is often underestimated by the U.S. Company and by the person accepting the post. In this program, participants explore Mexican history, U.S. and Mexican cultural values and different business cultures, and the unique challenges that being Mexican American or Hispanic/Latino pose when working in Mexico.

2e. Coaching for cross-cultural competence
Provide your relocated employees with the opportunity to accelerate their adaptation to their new country and work environment with Coaching sessions for cross-cultural competence.

Program participants can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support culture specific leadership development in the target county.

3. Cultural Diversity Programs ·return to program list·

3a. Cultural Diversity Awareness in the Workplace
Becoming aware of our own cultural values and assumptions and the way these determine behavior is the first step towards a successful interaction with people whose culture is different from our own. Participants will develop a new understanding of how stereotypes and fears affect their perceptions and interactions with others, and they will have an opportunity to explore new, more beneficial behaviors.

3b. Cross-Cultural Awareness for Health-Care Providers
The perceptions and methods of addressing health-related issues in diverse cultures are as varied as the cultures themselves. Participants will examine the challenges that health-care providers face when caring for a diverse population. They will explore specific cultural beliefs and practices and the best ways to approach culturally sensitive situations.

3c. Cultural Diversity Awareness of the Many Hispanic/Latino Groups in the United States
Most Spanish-speaking Latin Americans/Hispanics in the United States get lumped into one category, despite the great cultural diversity that exists among these groups. In this program, participants will learn the basic cultural similarities and differences among these different Hispanic/Latino groups and how these cultural traits impact their behavior and ways of adapting to the United States.

Program participants can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support culture specific leadership development in the target county.

4. Hispanic/Latino Workforce Programs in The United States (or consulting) ·return to program list·

4a. Working with Hispanic/Latino Workforces
As demographics indicate, Hispanic/Latino immigrants are a growing and vital workforce in many industries in the United States. Frequently, their capability is underutilized and their productivity compromised. In this program, the U.S. American manager will gain a new level of understanding of the work style, communication style, loyalty, commitment, and other culture-based work values of his/her Hispanic/Latino/Mexican workforce. This will enable the manager to identify and develop new skills and enhance productivity in the workforce. Industry-specific operations are analyzed (e.g. customer service, line production) and programs that can address the employer’s specific needs are suggested. Issues presented will also include recruitment, motivation, retention and best employee practices.

4b. Working successfully in the United States (For Hispanics/Latinos not raised in the United States)
Working in the United States presents challenges beyond English language fluency. It requires specific skills and an understanding of the national culture and of the culture of the company. In this program, participants will develop a new awareness about the U.S. culture and how it is reflected in the expectations of their U.S. employer. Issues such as timeliness, accountability, working by objectives and teamwork will be covered. We will analyze industry-specific operations such as customer service, and new skills will be practiced.

4c. Company Orientation for a Hispanic/Latino Workforce (Given in Spanish)
This is a new-hire program that’s implemented in a culturally sensitive way to help new employees understand the workplace culture of the United States, the objectives and values of their company, the particular policies, benefits and responsibilities within the company, and how the new employee fits in.

Employees will learn what is necessary to succeed and how success will be measured. We will examine the company’s specific practices or operations (e.g. safety and recycling) to enhance understanding and compliance on the part of the new employees. This program sets the foundation for employees to understand the company’s overall business strategies.

4d. Sexual Harassment Prevention for a Hispanic/Latino Workforce
In many Hispanic/Latino cultures, issues of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, physical ability, or sexual orientation are not part of the understanding of equality in the workplace. In this program, participants will develop an understanding of how the concept of equality developed and is understood in the United States, and they will learn what behaviors are and are not accepted in the U.S. workplace. This awareness and in-depth exploration of workplace regulations helps employees comply with the law and develop a new level of awareness of themselves and of the culture of the United States. Company-specific regulations and procedures will also be discussed.

Program participants can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support culture specific leadership development in the target county.

5. Teaching Culture along with English as a Second Language (ESL) ·return to program list·
Learning English is critical for new immigrants if they are to succeed. However, it’s equally important that they learn the “unwritten cultural rules” of their new country, such as what behaviors are expected — where, why, and how. ESL instructors will explore the basic cultural differences between the United States and Latin America, in order to make their classes more relevant and to integrate the lessons of culture as they teach their students English.

6. Cross-Cultural Couples ·return to program list·
Entering an intimate cross-cultural relationship is a personally enriching and challenging situation. In our own cultures, we become accustomed to doing things in certain ways, and we know what our society and peers will find acceptable and unacceptable. When we engage in a cross-cultural relationship, our partner will have a different set of ways for doing things and will hold different expectations.

In this program, participants will explore their unconscious cultural values in regards to marriage or partnership and gain an understanding of their partner’s values and expectations. Couples will discuss their personal preferences or find alternatives, and they will practice ways of communicating that are more mutually effective. Participants leave this session with new skills and tools to explore cross-cultural dynamics before they become problems, and to make cultural differences strengthen the relationship rather than weaken it.

Program participants can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support a successful cross-cultural relationship.

7. Building Bridges in Multi-Cultural Communities ·return to program list·

7a. The Latin-American Experience in the United States
This presentation is geared towards non-Latino audiences interested in learning the basics about the Latin-American experience in the United States. Statistics, definitions, cultural differences and similarities among Latin Americans are discussed and illustrated, emphasizing the local community. A panel comprised of local Latin-American residents and representatives from non-profit agencies can complement this presentation.

7b. Latin-American Roundtables (Bilingual)
Many communities across the United States are struggling to understand and integrate Hispanics/Latinos in their community. For this to happen, a new level of understanding and trust between Latinos and non-Latinos must be built. Tailored to the needs of the client, roundtable discussions are organized in order to enhance mutual understanding and appreciation between non-Latinos and Hispanics/Latinos in the community.

8. Global Leadership & Management Skills ·return to program list·
Managers need skills to develop as leaders capable of understanding and operating in a complex global organization. In these programs, participants learn the challenges of contemporary leadership and analyze their own skills and areas of opportunity.

Rossana Miranda-Johnston has achieved very high levels of satisfaction as feedback after delivering these programs. Her personable approach and positive focus on the human capacity come across and engages people beyond the workplace. Ms. Miranda Johnston believes that “better human beings will be better employees.”

8a. Effective Leadership
If you are not a natural leader, be an effective leader by learning to become one. Develop the self-awareness and skills necessary to confront the leadership expected in the XXI century. Identify your style and its impact on your team, create a trusting environment, adapt your leadership style to changing situations, use persuasion to influence others and work on creation a vision for your team.

8b. Effective communication
Communication is one of the most challenging human skills frequently left to chance or to people’s own intuitive learning. This program integrates an in-depth assessment of participants’ own use of the basic communication acts and their impact on assertiveness and effective coordination of action and results.

8c. Developing and Maintaining Trust
Trust is an imperative building block in successful workplaces and bottom line results. Research indicates that high-trust organizations outperform low-trust organizations 3 to 1*. Taking the pulse of trust in a team is a first step. Restoring or developing trust and credibility in organizations is a necessary process to unleash commitment and great performance. This program provides a personal and organizational road map for making it happen.

* Stephen M.R, Covey, The Speed of Trust

8d. Prioritizing & Delegating
Aligning the objectives of one’s team with the business unit and company’s objectives is a necessary step in running a well-focused team. Learn strategies to rank tasks and develop your staff through delegation. Balance your own work with that of your team to achieve optimal results.

8e. Motivation
Motivation is an accelerator of performance. Successful leaders are aware that motivating employees is at the base of good management. Motivation can come in different forms for different people. In this program we explore the different types of motivation and the managerial skills that can support motivation. Participants complete the program with a plan to implement motivation strategies.

8f. Leading Teams
Get a clear understanding of how teams work and lay the groundwork for success. Plan key strategies to lead your team and assess your own competence or areas of opportunity on basic leadership skills. Learn the keys to success leading teams virtually.

8g. Effective Meetings
Meetings are an integral part of business. Often these routine sessions become unproductive. Planning for goal-oriented meetings that are efficient and results driven requires a reconsideration of the basic building blocks of managing discussions to produce the best outcomes in a cross-cultural environment. This hands-on program will provide the strategies to run effective meetings in diverse environments.

8h. Conflict Management
Conflict styles are also conflict management strategies. Analyzing when each style is appropriate (or not) and identifying what the participants’ own preferences and skills are is an integral part of making conflict a learning opportunity.

8i. Giving Presentations
Getting the results you expect from your presentation involves more than effective visual packaging. Assisting managers to be more effective through the language, body and emotional coherence in the delivery of compelling and powerful presentations to staff, colleagues, suppliers and clients is the aim of this program.

8j. Time Management
This is a common challenge in today’s work environment. Facing packed schedules and endless emails and tasks, you risk becoming overwhelmed and ineffective at work. This program helps participants reclaim control over their workload by learning how to manage their commitments.

8k. Managing with a Coaching Style
Managers are expected to develop internal talent while managing their teams for results. Learning and talent development are more successful when done with an employee empowerment focus. In this program, managers or supervisors are presented with necessary tools and skills to develop people’s talent using a coaching style while managing.

8m. Global Diversity
Inclusion and development in the workplace yields commitment and productivity no matter where you are in the world. However, traditional U.S. based approaches to cultural diversity may be rejected in some places. In this program, participants develop a cultural diversity strategy tailored to the local reality. Ms. Miranda-Johnston’s contribution to the work in Global Diversity: Winning Customers and Engaging Employees within World Markets, features a six step successful methodology for global diversity strategies.

Program participants can engage in personal coaching as a way to further support culture specific leadership development in the target county.