The West looks to Asia for many things.
Whether it’s globally sourced products or manufacturing, forward-thinking economics, or an incredible history of culture, there’s a lot we can learn from many Asian countries.
And management styles is another item on that list.
With such a different historical background to most Western countries, the perspectives that found their way into the workplace are very different from those you’re probably used to.
And understanding these perspectives better can provide you inspiration on how to more effectively manage your own business.
But perhaps more importantly, it gives you insight into the workings of your Asian business partners, resulting in better interactions and stronger, more profitable relationships.
Let’s look at some key characteristics of Asian management styles and how they can help you understand this part of the world more accurately.
Political connections
The relationship between business and politics is stronger than ever, but in many Asian countries, that link is even more pronounced. In countries like America, deep political connections are a potential roadmap to success. Though capitalising on those connections is much less common in the West than in much of Asia.
In many Asian countries conducting business with politicians is standard practice. For example in China, dinners are regularly enjoyed with businesses owners and high-ranking local government officials to build credibility inside relevant social business circles.
Key takeaway: In many Asian countries, and as we’ll see more of soon, questioning authority is seen as a bad thing. This is especially true with the political establishment. It’s not like the West where an amusing quip about a recently-passed government policy will raise a smile, so the subject is typically best left avoided.
Asian paternalistic style
In the “Asian paternalistic” style of management, business decisions take into consideration the needs of all employees, often to a greater extent than the individual managers. In short, people are put first.
While orders are delivered in a top-down manner, questioning of senior decisions is rare due to an unspoken respect for superiors or management. Staff turnover is low and loyalty is ubiquitously encouraged as a cultural norm.
Key takeaway: Consequently, if you work in a sector of business that involves decisions that have a direct impact on a company’s employees at large, it’s important to frame your sales pitch and conversations in a way that observes the Asian paternalistic style of management. Failing to do so could make you look bad.
Confucian philosophy
There’s a lot of focus in the West these days about equality in the workplace. Back in 2013, we started to see the “bossless office trend” appear in everything from New York magazine to the Harvard Business Review.
The pin-up example is Semco, a conglomerate that’s distributed decision-making since the 1980s and has witnessed 20% annual growth rates for over three decades now. Sounds great, but ideas like that simply don’t fly in much of Asia.
Confusion philosophy is the polar opposite of the above ideology, whereby relationships must have a non-linear structure. A “bossless office” is considered a bizarre notion of the West and, in some cases, that’s putting it politely.
Some research suggests that many people in Asia go as far to say that a lack of acceptance for the inevitably hierarchical order of things is a root cause of many “Western problems” such as the degeneration of morals and the idea that the individual is more important than the collective.
In China, questioning authority can result in “losing face”. It’s a bad thing to have happen to you in a business context and, if you’re trying to source products globally, it’s your savings that are on the line.
Key takeaway: Making the extra effort to show respect for seniority is important. It’s a no-brainer that senior members of staff with whom you attempt to conduct business should be treated with a certain decorum. But you should know in advance that most Asian countries take this particularly seriously.
Want to speak to an expert with an established presence in Asia? Call Mawson Global today and speak to a specialist who knows how to walk the cultural tightropes.