5 Tips for Choosing the Right Intercultural Training Partner

Choosing an intercultural training partner can be a daunting task. How do you know which partner is the right fit for your needs? How do you know your employees will be in good hands?

Here are my TOP FIVE things to look for when choosing an intercultural training partner for your organization. I hope they can help you in your search:

1 - Look at the TECHNOLOGY being used

Some intercultural training companies have limited high-tech solutions, while others have way too many options. This can affect how you track transferee progress, how assessments and feedback forms are collected, and how programs are delivered.

• Recommendations: Too much technology isn't always a good thing. Find a company that uses technology to make everyone's lives easier - for HR & the global mobility team, for the transferee, and even for the training consultant. Don't be distracted by "shiny object syndrome."

• There is a big push to have more online programs, more recorded webinars, and fancier-looking portals. But these aren't always what they seem. Often times, portals are cumbersome to work in (for transferees and the trainers themselves). Most of the individuals who take part in an intercultural training program would rather ask questions in real time to a real person. While that library of 1,000 webinars may seem impressive, most people don't really use them. Don't let these shiny things distract you. Take your time to really look at the content that is provided. More on that below.

2 - Review program CONTENT

Full honesty here. Most of the intercultural training content out there is pretty much the same. That is, if the intercultural training company has its own content. Some companies rely solely on the trainer to use their own content, while others prefer the trainer sticks to the script and uses only what is provided for them. Some companies use an assessment tool, whether it be outsourced or created in-house. The assessment may be for determining readiness of an international assignee or used to compare one's values in the workplace.

• Recommendations: Find a company that has a hybrid approach - meaning, they have a basic set of materials that is standard across the globe, but they also allow for adaptation and supplementation of materials by the trainer. You want to set the quality of the trainings to ensure consistency globally, but you need flexibility so things aren't so cookie-cutter. The content should also be visually appealing and interactive. There should be role-plays, case studies, and videos incorporated into the trainings. No one wants to sit through 100 slides of pure text.

• I personally do not think that having an assessment tool is a must. If the intercultural training partner doesn't use one, that's ok; trainers will incorporate the same ideas from the tools into their training anyway. It is important to note that most trainers will customize the training, no matter what materials they have, each and every time.

3 - Examine training DELIVERY methods

Some intercultural training companies only offer pre-departure trainings, while others only offer post-arrival programs. Trainings can be delivered in-person, online, or as self-study. Some programs are 1-day in length, while others can be broken up into small, 1-hour blocks.

• Recommendations: Find a company that is flexible & can do all of the above. There's no one-size-fits-all approach. Some of your employees may want pre-departure, some may want their training upon arrival. Some may be able to get away for a full-day, others may only be able to spare an hour or two at a time.

• A company that is willing to work with a flexible approach will save you a lot of headache. Most training companies have the capability to deliver trainings live via Skype, Zoom, WebEx, etc. This makes things easier on those who cannot commit to full-day trainings.

4 - Find out who is MANAGING the business

Who is in charge at the intercultural training company? Who is overseeing quality, feedback, the consultant network, metrics? The person running the intercultural training company or department is just as important as the content or delivery method of the programs themselves.

• Recommendations: Find a company that has an experienced leader in the field of intercultural training overseeing operations. The Manager or Director should be seen as a subject matter expert (SME) in the field. She should be familiar with the latest trends and frameworks & should be committed to improving and innovating the industry.

• Having an SME in intercultural training leading the business will ensure you have a passionate spokesperson for teaching cultural competency and someone who truly cares whether or not your people are getting what they need.

5 - Assess focus on USER EXPERIENCE

We all know that user experience is a hot topic right now. It's important everywhere, but especially when it comes to training programs. Those who really care about user experience will constantly be innovating to come up with new content, new delivery methods, and new technology to make your people's lives easier.

• Recommendations: If the company isn't working on anything new and exciting, then you can probably assume that they won't be able to grow and adapt to your needs as your organization grows. Find a provider that is passionate about innovation and improving the learner experience. Find someone who challenges the status quo and who wants to add improvements wherever possible.

• Find a provider who truly cares about the user experience as opposed to doing whatever they think will impress the client. Sure, the latter is important, but making the end user happy will, without a doubt, make the client happy.

Here are some questions you can ask potential intercultural partners to determine if they are right for you:

• What is different about your content that no one else is doing?

• What is the most innovative & exciting thing you are working on?

• What percentage of learners are using your online materials?

• What are you doing to improve the learner experience?

• How are you making the learner's life easier?

• How customizable are your programs?

Finding the right intercultural training partner can take some time. You'll want to be sure that they are listening to your needs and are willing to be flexible with you and your organization.

If you need help navigating the search for an intercultural partner, I'd be happy to help! Contact me at hello@nicolebarile.com or visit me here.

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