Performance Improvement
Konsult Solutions partners with leading US strategic foresight and trend tracking firm to analyze and optimize their project pitch to a major Swedish brand name
Project Scope:
A US foresight and trend tracking firm was seeking to partner with a major Swedish company and provide their strategic scenario services, but encountered unexpected and problematic communication difficulties with their Swedish counterparts that could interfere with being hired for the project. Unsure about the causes of the awkward group interactions that had worked so well in American markets and realizing that the team may be missing critical cultural information about doing business in Sweden, the trend tracking firm reached out to Konsult Solutions for help.
The firm requested a two-hour Nordic cultural competency training with a focus on Sweden. Since they anticipated future project potential in Norway, they also wanted to better understand how certain Swedish values and social practices compared with those in Norway. They specifically requested preparation for dealing with greetings, group negotiation, decision making, and presentation style and how these might be very different in a Nordic context.
Results:
Based on the Konsult Solutions workshop and presentation, the firm recognized they needed to redesign and reimagine their entire presentation strategy.
They implemented Konsult Solutions’ suggestions regarding meeting etiquette, social customs, and communication styles
And they developed a new strategy for engaging their contacts in a way that optimized their sense of buy-in and participation.
Supported by a better understanding of the culture, they avoided previous social miscues and faux-paus that interfered with their Swedish counterparts’ motivation and investment.
With Konsult Solutions’ assistance, the Swedish company could focus on the value and expertise the firm was offering without needless distractions.
The firm reported that they saw immediate results from the change in presentation style and were quickly hired for the project.
They said Konsult Solutions gave them confidence going forward with other projects in Nordic countries.
“Reaching out to Christian Gullette at Konsult Solutions was the best decision we could have made when our initial meetings with a potential Swedish client revealed some knowledge gaps about Swedish communication styles. We hadn’t realized that beneath the English-language conversations, there were so many social customs playing a major role in the potential success of our pitch. Christian not only provided vital background information about Swedish customs, but he identified specific areas where our team could refocus its approach. We were tremendously impressed by Christian’s expertise and his detailed and eye-opening presentation, which also compared Swedish customs with those in Norway, where we anticipate future projects. He offered invaluable strategies and solutions for reengaging with our Swedish counterparts with a new communication style. We saw immediate results in the way our Swedish partners reacted to our ideas, and thanks to Konsult Solutions, we secured the contract!”