Asia: What Westerners Just Don't Understand
Culture—a word that has severely harmed corporates, ruined joint-ventures, and created an infinite number of dialogue misunderstandings. In an increasingly globalized work market, not only managers but also workers need to prove themselves interculturally aware. This is also in the list of things that Westerners just don't understand. Especially when coming to Asia, western workers have to stay humble and try to understand the local mentality.
In this article, we compile some value that Westerners just don’t understand when they come to Asia.
Think collectively
source: psmag.com
According to Hofstede research, most Asian countries show a quite collective mentality compared to Western standards. The feeling of being part of a community is stronger and the individual accomplishment not so much emphasized. Therefore, though the Westerners just don't understand, Westerners should try to stay humble and think collectively when they're doing an internship or job in Asia. The harmony of the community is important.
"The face"
The concept is quite new for most Westerners. Let us explain it: when a wrong doing is done, it shouldn't matter who did it. Stating a name explicitly in front of everyone else causes shame to the accused and make him or her "lose his face". It is against the group implicit rules of harmony and considered as rude.
Confucian values
source: videoblocks.com
Not limited to China, Confucian values have spread all across the Asian continent. One of its most representatives is the societal implicit hierarchy: little brother/big brother, employee/director, children/parents, etc.
For example, the "little brother" should show the "big brother" respect and loyalty, while the "big brother" should in return provide protection and advice. Although several thousand years old, this paradigm can still be felt strongly today: in Japan, the relation between "kohai" and "senpai" (younger pupil - older pupil) is still strong. Koreans put a huge emphasis on age to determine each person's role. In Indonesian, the word distinction is not made between "brother" and "sister" but between "big brother/sister" and "younger brother/younger sister". (Kakak/Adik). Westerners just don't understand this because Westerners value equality but shouldn't be shocked by this cultural aspect of many Asian cultures.
When coming to do an internship in Asia, be ready to stay humble, put every situation in perspective and fight ethnocentric thoughts. There is no right or wrong, just different realities which we should accept if we choose to travel the world.
You’ll be okay! Just send us a message if you have any doubt or hesitation, we will give you some advice.