Design Relationships in Asia
Author: Mike Holt - Added May 26, 2009
It always strikes me how bizarre the impressions are of Asia from NZers. From time to time, I run across comments reported in the media from NZers there for their first time, or whose experience of Asia is limited to a narrow view.
Asia is somewhat different from what we're used to but its more different when you focus on those. Conversely, apart from language, most societies around Asia are remarkably similar to our own. I find this particularly so when it comes to business.
I see books and articles and so on, and increasingly, I'm approached also for comment about what it's like to do business in Asia, and what are the principles involved. IT'S THE SAME AS HOME, FOLKS! People want to know that you're trustworthy, that you can do whatever it is that you say you can do, that you'll remember favours and so on. In Asia, there is probably a higher sense of personal estimation when someone decides to do business with you, and that leads perhaps to one or two eating and drinking sessions... and to be honest, I think that's a good thing. To do business, it's helpful to know that there is something we like about each other. We each understand that behind the transaction is a personal regard or awareness that always, always a transaction goes well because there is a level of personal honour involved.
Smart people know that intuitively anywhere in the world, and it's the same everywhere. In Asia, people go about establishing that in ways we could learn from.