There was a variety show on TV last night where foreigners working in Singapore were invited to discuss about topics in Mandarin. While it is facinating to hear them speak in a language other than English or their mother tongue, I find it extremely interesting to hear them revealing their cultural differences.
One of the topics discussed was the nationality of colleagues whom they dislike to work with. For example, there was one who disliked Thai because of their laid back attitude. The speaker politely explained that the stressful office environment may detrimental to their mental health. Another commented that he did not like Chinese as he thought they are often boastful and less capable than what they claimed. A Chinese defended that they are just being more competitive. A job in Singapore may have 5 applicants, but that in China may have 500. This is their way of making themselves outstanding. One American commented that he disliked working with Germans as they are too serious at work. It's one task after another, with no time for socializing. And the reason for being so? The German explained that they wanted to focus on work, so as to enjoy family and leisure time (perhaps over beer!) after work.
While in some way, it may be stereotyping the work attitude of different nationalities based on their working experience, there are probably some real differences. And that is cultural difference.
Cultural difference applies across borders, people of different nationalities or race. But what about within a country, across generations?
A senior manager once commented that his staffs are no longer "hard" like they used to be. Younger generations are "softies". They get upset when reprimanded. They quit when job progression is not smooth. They blame others when there are mistakes.
Perhaps we should adapt and recognise that people change, so should our expectations. And this change is actually a shift in our culture.
These days folks place higher value in individualism and self recognition.
They are the fast food generation. Everything is fast tracked. Twitter, Facebook, SMS, WhatsApp. Wikileaks, Wikipedia. Communication is instananeous and centered around self. Information is always at the finger tips. They need to know why they are assessed in certain ways at work. Transparacy is important. They must be rewarded for their effort.
Verbal abuses are taboos even in schools. Imagine these children taking hard knocks from their bosses when they become working adults?
Yes, within Singapore, across generations, people think differently, live their lives differently, hold different work attitudes. That is culture difference in situ. Some may call it "generation gap"?
Things like morality, the practical wisdoms, the right's and wrong's of life, should largely remain the same. On the other hand, work attitudes are part of culture which evolve, regrdless of borders. We need manage this evolution at work as how we would with conventional cultural differences.
Even at the companies level, there are different office cultures. Some have "bang table" culture, some enjoy good rounds of beer after work. Perhaps it stems from the culture of their country of origin.
I agree that being humble and taking criticisms are important traits for survival in the society. However, before we brand our young generations as "softies", let us examine the possibilities of adapting to changes, learning new ways to manage them, and understand how the people of tomorrow (not just yesterday's) work.
One of the topics discussed was the nationality of colleagues whom they dislike to work with. For example, there was one who disliked Thai because of their laid back attitude. The speaker politely explained that the stressful office environment may detrimental to their mental health. Another commented that he did not like Chinese as he thought they are often boastful and less capable than what they claimed. A Chinese defended that they are just being more competitive. A job in Singapore may have 5 applicants, but that in China may have 500. This is their way of making themselves outstanding. One American commented that he disliked working with Germans as they are too serious at work. It's one task after another, with no time for socializing. And the reason for being so? The German explained that they wanted to focus on work, so as to enjoy family and leisure time (perhaps over beer!) after work.
While in some way, it may be stereotyping the work attitude of different nationalities based on their working experience, there are probably some real differences. And that is cultural difference.
Cultural difference applies across borders, people of different nationalities or race. But what about within a country, across generations?
A senior manager once commented that his staffs are no longer "hard" like they used to be. Younger generations are "softies". They get upset when reprimanded. They quit when job progression is not smooth. They blame others when there are mistakes.
Perhaps we should adapt and recognise that people change, so should our expectations. And this change is actually a shift in our culture.
These days folks place higher value in individualism and self recognition.
They are the fast food generation. Everything is fast tracked. Twitter, Facebook, SMS, WhatsApp. Wikileaks, Wikipedia. Communication is instananeous and centered around self. Information is always at the finger tips. They need to know why they are assessed in certain ways at work. Transparacy is important. They must be rewarded for their effort.
Verbal abuses are taboos even in schools. Imagine these children taking hard knocks from their bosses when they become working adults?
Yes, within Singapore, across generations, people think differently, live their lives differently, hold different work attitudes. That is culture difference in situ. Some may call it "generation gap"?
Things like morality, the practical wisdoms, the right's and wrong's of life, should largely remain the same. On the other hand, work attitudes are part of culture which evolve, regrdless of borders. We need manage this evolution at work as how we would with conventional cultural differences.
Even at the companies level, there are different office cultures. Some have "bang table" culture, some enjoy good rounds of beer after work. Perhaps it stems from the culture of their country of origin.
I agree that being humble and taking criticisms are important traits for survival in the society. However, before we brand our young generations as "softies", let us examine the possibilities of adapting to changes, learning new ways to manage them, and understand how the people of tomorrow (not just yesterday's) work.
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