Common Cultural Traits in Asia (2 of 3)

The Importance of Personal Network

Personal Network (or alternatively known as guanxi in Chinese, ningen kankei in Japanese) is mentioned in many literatures. To get things done in East Asia, it’d be easier to utilize a personal network of family members, relatives, friends, business partners, and government officials. Although the effect of guanxi has been exaggerated to a certain extent, it is common experience of business people that getting support from a few key contacts or pushing certain “hot buttons” can greatly facilitate the resolution of difficult problems. Although in a sense this also happens in the West, people in US or Europe tend to observe and stick to procedures, formal processes, rules and regulations, whereas Asians in general are easily influenced by personal relationship.

The Concept of Shade

Yin-Yang is another essential concept in East Asia. Chinese traditional thinking emphasizes the importance of maintaining a harmonious state between yin and yang in almost everything, resulting in notions that pervade in all aspect of life – balance, harmony, equilibrium, and steadiness. The ideal state is not a state that goes to one extreme, but rather between extremes. It also leads to the concept of shade, an area between black and white, or yin and yang. It can even be both yin and yang. Chinese and Japanese can usually accept ambiguities in business, can go ahead with a business deal without contract, and try to resolve an issue from the perspective of balance and equilibrium. This also shows in daily conversation, as few Chinese or Japanese will say things too definitive.

Humbleness

Being perceived as modest and humble is a virtue in East Asia. People showing off their possessions, knowledge or achievement are usually seen by the others as arrogant, and therefore in negative light. A common mistake for Western managers in China or Japan is that they appear too dominating in meetings, or to put forth their objections too blatantly. East Asians tend to be very quiet in meetings partly due to their upbringing and partly to their acting humble. They want to appear as modest by not saying too much, and even if they have to raise different viewpoints they would use words very carefully and indirectly.

To be continued...

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