SpeechMasters International and Orbis Cultural Synergy

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The Manager's Handbook of Cross-Cultural Communication

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6 Presentation and public speaking

Where do managers experience most difficulty in practice. Not surprisingly  it is, first of all when performing in front  of an “audience”  that most executives feel at their most vulnerable even in their home culture.  But strangely enough the second most serious cause for concern is in less formal social situations such as over-the-table dinner conversation and other so-called informal “small talk.

This book considers the first one in the chapter on “ Presentation and Public Speaking”. Faced with the cultural diversity which a global forum involves one approach is to cling to the style which is most familiar and secure and to stick to well rehearsed standard performances. We believe this approach is at best damage limitation and fails to optimizes the opportunities which a culturally sensitive and versatile presenter can enjoy.