Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Prevent Culture Clash in the Hong Kong Workplace
Smartjob.com knows you face international culture everyday. With Hong Kong’s history as a trade port, it has seen more cultural exposure than most other places in Asia. When conducting business, cross-cultural understanding is crucial. It is easy to cause unintended offense with miscommunication based on a traditional background.
When dealing with coworkers and clients from other places of the world, you should be aware of important cultural differences. In places like Germany, Scandinavia, and Australia, verbal communication is weighted heavily and conversation can sometimes be characterized as blunt. This is not the case in high-context Asian cultures where information is delivered less directly, sometimes relying on the unsaid message. In addition, the fast-paced nature of Hong Hong may result in employees like yourself finding mainland business too slow. Another example is the handshake: a polite Asian handshake could appear limp to someone from North America where the strength of the handshake effects how assertive you seem.
Intercultural training and awareness can help foster successful international business. Social and business practices can be researched online for more intricate explanations of cultural differences. Gain insights into the conduct of coworkers, this is the first step to fostering a tolerant and sensitive workplace. Together, people of many backgrounds can work well when placed in a safe environment. Just remember to be aware and let your colleagues help guide you to proper cultural behavior.
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