Cross-Cultural Compass
Your guide to the cultures of the world.
The cross-cultural compass is your window to most national cultures. On demand, any culture or set of cultures can be deepened in courses, coaching or presentations.
Book a tailor-made cross-cultural training to improve communication and cooperation beyond your borders.
Cross-cultural compass: Scope and Contents•
Just click on the hotspot of any country on the map. The compass gives a concise but succinct taste of cultures, and provides useful recommendations for collaboration in the workplace.
Cross-cultural compass: Contents.
In addition to the values, norms and some concise behavioral characteristics of the local population, we attach particular importance to the tips that expatriates or executives, e.g. from Europe, should heed. The culture compass provides valuable information about how people from the respective cultures tick. Due to the complexity of national cultures, a selection of central characteristics was made without claiming to be complete.
Cross-cultural compass: Our own glasses as an obstacle.
The awareness that we wear cultural glasses is a first step towards intercultural competence. German, Japanese and Russians are z. For example, French culture is hardly perceived in exactly the same way. It is therefore important that every observer is always aware of the values, norms and behavioral patterns of their own culture.
Culture versus Personality.
Our cross-cultural compass knows that that the description of national cultures does not apply 100% to all individuals of the country concerned. The individual personality of each person affected also plays an important role. However, the attitudes and behavior patterns briefly described are those that are (very) frequently expressed.
We speak of national cultures, knowing that the cultural boundaries between nations are not always equally sharp. However, Chinese culture, for example, has more in common with other Asian countries than with France or Great Britain. Even within the "nations" the culture is rarely uniform. Japan might be an exception. The example of France, on the other hand, shows clear differences between the Mediterranean region, Brittany and Alsace. An even clearer example of cultural diversity within a country can be found in the USA.
Cultural Dimensions of Hofstede.
The pages under the hotspots on the map above each contain a graphic that compares the cultural dimensions of the respective country with those of Switzerland. Here we have chosen the cultural dimension indices of the Hofstede Center. The indices measure the cultural dimensions on a scale from 0 to 100.
Our Blog Topics.
Our blog articles mainly deal with topics related to the world of work such as organizational culture, intercultural cooperation and health in the workplace. We value your comments.
Rituals in organizations: Much more than “nice to have”
Rituals allow us to pause, strengthen our relationships, and consciously support transitions, both within teams and across the organization. An intercultural perspective reveals how rituals can unite teams and what lessons they can offer to improve collaboration.
Cortisol and stress: The silent effect of criticism, insecurity & shame
At the same time, knowing your cortisol and stress profile invites you to treat yourself more gently. Perhaps your body barely reacts—not because you're so "cool," but because your system is overloaded and shutting itself down. Or you react very strongly—which isn't a sign of weakness, but of high sensitivity. Both are okay. The key is to get to know yourself better.
When psychological safety meets cultural intelligence
Psychological safety is the emotional foundation upon which collaboration, innovation, and trust thrive. And it's the difference between a team that survives and one that excels together.
