International Cultural Differences Between Eastern and Western Countries

Francis:

Okay. Let me turn the situation around. What would happen if you were the German virtual assistant working for an Indian employer? He gives you a job. He gives you clear work instructions- what you have to do- and expects that you do it like that and not different.

Then you start responding to him every day because you think that’s the correct way. He thinks “What a jackass! He’s writing me all the time. He’s impolite. What’s this guy?”

Then, you start taking initiative. You make the work better than his instructions and say, “Hey Boss, I did it even better than you asked it. Isn’t it this good?” And he thinks, “No. I did want it exactly like I wanted it; like I described it because I have some plans in mind; because I wanted someone else to do the different task, for example.”

And you over delivering by your own standards is under delivering by perhaps the Eastern Asian standards. I know that this example is stupid but I think it shows what I mean, right?

Stefan:

Actually Yes.

Francis:

If you were the German cleaning person in a Thai house and you come on. You hammer against the door so that everyone hears you and you’re not over here and then you enter the door before anyone says “Enter”. And the family looks at you shocked, “What is this cleaning person is doing?”

And you say, “I’m here because I want to clean. It’s my job. So don’t talk to me now. I will do the job. I will be very clean.” You might expect that. You would find it very cool. They find it horrible, perhaps. 

Stefan:

Well, maybe.

Francis:

So are you right or are you wrong? 

Stefan:

You have a point there, of course. 

Francis:

Thank you.

Stefan:

Let’s just be fair and say that you are a little big exaggerating.

Francis:

Of course I’m exaggerating. I’m just trying to illustrate that these international cultural differences are not necessarily black or white. 

Stefan:

Sure, they aren’t. When it comes to work, I think, the results justifies the means always. That’s my impression. What do you think?

Francis:

I don’t think so. I think in some cultures, the means are more than the results.

Stefan:

Okay. 

Francis:

I think we should keep it up that we have different beliefs and different.  

Perhaps, My virtual assistant could leave a comment here in the interview what he thinks about this whole exaggerations – the politeness versus effectiveness issue.

Stefan:

I would love to read that. Vice versa 

Virtual Assistant:

I think Stefan is right and every employer thinks in the same way and expects a bit more from his employees (as every employee expects a bit more from his employer, it’s a human nature). 

Being specific about Stefan’s cleaning lady case as I said in an earlier post…

Click here to read his complete overview about this discussion

Francis:

I also like in some of my sub-parts of the site, I have little comments by my assistant in a different color or in a highlight box. I had one big ethical discussion where I really ask him to write his own opinions.  

Because it’s very charming to see how the other side of the world thinks of that. Perhaps, I should put this even more often on my site.