“3 years ago I was leading a study involving countries such as Thailand or Philippines. Every time I was talking with the Associates and requesting them something they would answer yes, no problem, but then I found that they were struggling to have it completed by the agreed date and in several occasions they were not delivering as committed. I understood that for them it’s difficult to say “no”, so after understanding that, instead of asking them “Can you do that by X day?” I was asking: “by when can you have this done?” (and then discuss where needed)”
“Working with a number of Asian colleagues, have noticed the differences between a more pragmatic European/American communication style vs a more protocol form a communicating, In Asia where clarity is not always provided directly on questions.”
“The relation with the superior (especially in some Asian countries). In some countries saying NO to the superior if people disagree, or even if they don’t understand or can’t do what is expected, is not a normal behavior. They say YES, and finally don’t do (or don’t know what they have to do).”
“In Sweden we work more on “equal basis”… I was a manager… In Singapore, more authoritarian and hierarchical… They wanted direction and obeyed all the decisions without questioning”
“I had many experiences with Asian interlocutors where they were always saying “yes”, but at the end, I was realizing that they did not understand what I was meaning or asking."
“During a lunch, I explained the menu to a Thai colleague. She replied "yes" to every of my questions. When she has received the meal, she has only eaten the bread. It was very embarrassing.”
“In the Philippines people are so kind and want to make foreigners feel comfortable, they didn’t let me move any furniture from the shop floor at the beginning. The staff even accompanied me to the hotel and they wanted to hold an umbrella to protect me from the sun.”