Managing
Asians 1:
Actions
that Help
Most
expatriates consider Asians to be pleasant and accommodating people. They are generally open-minded to accept new ideas that will
develop their skills and chances of success. That said, Asia has
ancient and diverse cultures, and there are certain qualities that are
not easily changed.
Over the decades, leaders have shared many of the factors that led to
success.
Some of the most important of these are listed below.
TACTICS
THAT
BUILD
PRODUCTIVITY
Action
1:
Training, Training, Training
All
people want to improve their abilities but need direction on how to go
about it. Training and development budgets need to be higher in
emerging countries of Asia to help people understand the leap that is
required to attain international levels of performance. International
managers also need to dedicate extra time to mentor key staff
individually.
Action
2:
Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-up
International managers will usually need to spend more time to ensure
projects are moving ahead. People need more direction and support to
complete tasks. When problems arise, they may be be uneasy about approaching bosses directly for a
solution or even informing them of potential concerns. International managers need to seek out problems for themselves.
Action
3:
Selective Dismissals
The termination of staff who are holding back an organization can have
a strong impact on productivity. Dismissals are considered more shocking
in Asia since it is done less often and involves loss of face. Once
this is done, people are more disposed to accept direction involving
change. NOTE: Terminations need to be performed in a manner that is
sensitive to all employees – including the ones being fired. If
executed in a harsh manner or done too often, other key staff may quit
in support or they may work behind the scene to achieve retribution.
Action
4:
Develop Females
As in the west, women should be encouraged to advance to senior levels in
the organization. International managers working throughout Asia have
reported very positive results through senior female leaders.
Action
5:
Cultivate Independent Thinking
In group oriented societies, people expend a lot of time thinking about how to please the group and its leaders. Understand that this is
important to local people but also challenge them to think
critically and innovatively about how to improve the organization.
Action
6:
Encourage Self-Sufficiency
Repeatedly make it clear that individuals are responsible for
completing their own tasks. Motivate people to become wholly accountable
for their own contributions rather than just waiting for orders from
above and following them.
Action
7:
Group Recognition
Motivational programs that reward individuals over groups are less
effective in Asia than in more individualistic societies like the west.
Many high performers will worry about attracting jealousies of others
and upsetting group harmony by winning individual recognition. Organize
people into teams and they will compete exuberantly to win whatever
recognition is being promoted. Note: Ethnic minorities such as Chinese
and Indians in Southeast Asia are possible exceptions to this group-over-individual recognition rule.
Action
8:
Understand Local Labour Laws
Emerging countries often have complicated and overlapping regulations
in many areas including employment law. Despite the confusion,
multinational companies need to be strictly compliant since they are
usually held to a higher standard by authorities. International
managers who don’t endeavour to understand and comply with local regulations will certainly cause
themselves and their organizations much grief.
Action
9:
Build Relationships
Desk-bound managers are condemned to failure in Asia. People in Asia need to
see, hear and converse with their leaders. Interacting with people on a
personal level at work is essential. But, to achieve truly
break-through results, managers must socialize with people
outside of the workplace. Dining together is considered particularly
effective. If done sincerely, forming these emotional connections will
yield tremendous results in loyalty, motivation and productivity.
Action
10:
Study
Learn the basics about the country’s culture, history and even some of
the local language. Ask questions and discuss these subjects with
staff, clients and other people you deal with. Note: Absolutely avoid
making condescending judgments about the country or its people. No
nation is perfect and everyone knows they have room for improvement but no
one wants to hear all about it from a foreigner.
Action
11:
Accommodate Differences
Adjust as best you can to the cultural differences that don’t impact your business or impact it the least.
Action
12:
Practice
Good Manners
Some western managers have utterly destroyed their careers in Asia
simply by behaving rudely to business partners, clients, employees or other
important stakeholders. Asians are more sensitive to proper social
etiquette. International managers need to understand what are
considered good manners and practice them.
Action
13:
Be Yourself
Thankfully, there are many attributes that Asians sincerely admire
about what they perceive are western management styles. Some of these
are: more equality among people, straight-forward communication, open
discussion and confrontation, less personal involvement in other
people’s lives, decisiveness, supportive of others, less emotional
attachment, result-orientation, and so on.
Hiring
Leaders
Download
this e-book to learn all you need to know to
get the best people on your bus and drive it to greatness.
A global manager's failsafe
guide to dominating any industry
by employing its dominant
people.
DOWNLOAD Hiring
Leaders now!
New sections are being added so
check back regularly.
Send your comments and
suggestions to
hiringleaders@chalre.com
Executive Search
& Management Consulting:
Chalre
Associates provides its Executive Search and Recruiting services throughout the emerging countries of the Asia Pacific
region with specific focus on Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos.
We are
proactive and well known in our sectors of focus. Regional
Managers use us to help bridge the gap between local environments and
the world-class requirements of multinational corporations.
C
o n t a c t U s
+ 632 822 4129 
leaders@chalre.com
Asia
CEO Forum
Asia
CEO Forum presented by PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is the largest
regular business event in Philippines and considered one of the
most important in the Southeast Asia region. The forum serves as a
hub for the spreading of ideas that help executive managers
overseeing enterprises across the Asia Pacific region.
Attendees are both expatriate and Asian management personnel
overseeing multinational and regional organizations. Held in
Philippines, presenters are leaders in their industries and
engaged in momentous pursuits of significance to the entire
region.
Asia
CEO Forum is operated as a CSR (Corporate Social
Responsibility) activity of Chalre Associates, one of Southeast
Asia's most prominent senior management executive search firms, to
promote Philippines as a premier business destination in the Asia
region.
Click
Here to go to Asia
CEO Forum now!
Asia
CEO Awards
Asia
CEO Awards presented by Aseana City represents the
grandest alliance of local and international business people ever
created to promote Philippines on the world stage. As one of the
largest events of its kind in the Asia Pacific region, it is
considered a must-attend occasion for business leaders active in
Southeast Asia.
The star-studded Board of Judges of Asia CEO Awards give
away 10 awards to many of the most accomplished leadership teams
and individuals currently operating in Philippines and the region.
The awards recognize extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated
outstanding achievement for their organizations and contributions
to others.
As one of the fastest growing nations on the planet, the world's
business leaders have their eyes on Philippines like never before.
The annual gala was established as a natural outgrowth of Asia
CEO Forum, the largest regular networking event for the
business community in Philippines.
Click
Here
to go to Asia
CEO Awards now!
SPECIAL DOWNLOADS:
Media organizations
throughout the world call upon the Principals of Chalre Associates for thought leadership.
Below are some examples of published material written by our
consultants or international journalists who refer to them. For a complete list of published work,
Click Here.
Getting Ready For The
Deluge: Outsourcing in Philippines
by
Chalre Associates senior staff
Download
[PDF
file, 62KB]
The
Economist Intelligence Unit of the Economist magazine
asked Chalre Associates' Chairman, Richard Mills,
to write a chapter about the Philippine outsourcing sector
in its annual Business Guide Book. The material
provides a Executive Briefing on the progress and major
issues facing this industry that is certainly one of most
significant growth stories in the world.
more
Asia Pacific Mining
Conference 2007 - Report
by
Chalre Associates senior staff
Download
[PDF
file, 28KB]
The 7th Asia Pacific Mining Conference put on by the Asean
Federation of Mining Associations was perhaps the largest
such event in the region. Richard Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates
gave this report on what was said by the prominent mining
people who presented.
more
The
State of BPO in Philippines: Dan Reyes Speaks
by
Chalre Associates senior staff
Download
[PDF
file, 31KB]
Richard
Mills, Chairman of Chalre Associates,
interviewed Dan Reyes of Sitel for ComputerWorld (US) recently to get
his views on the state of the BPO industry in Philippines. Dan
presented US readers with compelling information to support his view
that Philippines is currently seen as the "Number 1" option by global
companies sending BPO work to offshore destinations.
Dan Reyes is easily one of most experienced Business Process
Outsourcing (BPO) managers in the Asia Pacific region and the world. He
is head of the extremely successful Philippine operations of Sitel, the
world's largest call center organization. Among other things, he is a
founder and former president of the Business Processing Association of
the Philippines. more
