Hi!
After a kind request from one of your fellow members at Red Commerce,
I am happy to start a string of blogs about working in China: challenges and hands-on advice.
OK, little warning, this first blog is long but rich. I welcome all your comments.
--- 9+ years of work in China - what I've learned - Part One ---
5 years in Beijing and 4+ years in Shanghai..
Thats my life in the first decade of the first Millennium...
There are many well implemented International companies in China. We all know that now.
- Fact One: In many International companies, most employees are Chinese locals.
- Fact Two: Many foreigners used to act as managers of some sorts, however we are seeing more and more Chinese locals filling management positions.
General Advice One:
Overall, when working in China, one has to adapt it's ways of communicating and interacting with Chinese staff and Managers.
That doesn't mean to try to be 100% Chinese in your way to do things.. but to be aware of how Chinese employees tend to behave in certain situations, how they approach and address certain problems, their attitudes at work, etc...
Yes, speaking Chinese helps a lot. Speaking a little shows that you appreciate the culture and that you're making an effort..
But speaking the language is not enough..
Here's one more thing. There is a WORLD of difference when you interact with people from these two groups:
- Young twenty-something Chinese staff
- Older (30+) Chinese staff
Let me repeat that: a WORLD of difference
I will elaborate that a little more:
Chinese Generation 30+ - FACTS:
- Born in the seventies or before.
- Many of them have sisters, brothers.
- They grown up in an environment in which they had lots of opportunities to socialize,
- (develop social skills) and they also grown up with parents and teachers who taught them the values of respect of the elders, the ones with the most extensive experience, the teacher, the boss, etc
- Basically preparing them to work in hierchical environments where the big boss "knows" and gives "orders" downward.
Chinese Generation 30+ - my hands-on Advice on how to interact with them:
- They expect their boss to know what to do, and they wait for orders: so you can give direct orders without having to elaborate the "why" too much
- They associate themselves with the Big Team (the company,etc). They are a part of it.
- They work for the company, and its mission. They are more loyal.
- They expect and want to work for the same company for a long time: so give them responsibilities and opportunities to go up the ladder..
- They are willing to accept a boss who is very direct, hard, who is not praising them.
- They are not as open-minded as their younger colleagues: so "also" go with asking the younger ones for fresh new ideas, solutions to problems, etc
- They tend to take less initiatives (they expect the boss, the managers to know what to do..): so , if you want them to take more initiatives, be clear about it, and discuss that with them..
Chinese Generation 20-something - FACTS:
- Born in the eighties
- Most of them are unique children (due to the one-child policy).
- They grown up alone (when at home mostly) and had less chance to develop social skills except when at school. Respect of elders, and superior figures were not a big part of their family education. Therefore they grew up to become individuals "searching" for a "mentor figure".
- A mentor who could show them the way, show them how to do things, for what purposes, etc
Chinese Generation 20-something - my hands-on Advice on how to interact with them:
- Give them good work support for their work. Be a good mentor, they need it!
- Explain how their job contribute to the "bigger purpose" and what that purpose is.. even though they not tend to associate themselves with the company (its mission,etc)
- Even though they are more likely to hop from a job to another, illustrate how their work will help them with their career advancement
- Praise them! Encourage them!
- They are sensitive to salary and work benefits, negotiate well and make them understand the values for their career, their learning, etc
- DO NOT give tasks without explaining why. Do not push, but discuss the tasks and agree on due times. If tasks are not done in time, then some healthy pushing will be welcomed.
- They are open-minded and have lots of great ideas, use that chance to involve them in problem solving, brainstorming, etc
- Chatting online is in integrate part of their lives (most of them chat on MSN and/or QQ).. they "very" connected with lots of friends...they need it, it gives them the happiness, the energy for work.. banning the use of MSN, QQ, is usually a mistake... usually ends up with them leaving the company...
Of course, their are more than that, and this advice is just small pieces of the big puzzle.
More to come in Part Two, Three and beyond!
The best of luck to all of you!
Sylvain
