As I shared in Korea Perspective (2015) there is an interconnectedness in the Korean workplace. In particular, complex relationships abound.
This is true whether workplace operations are in South Korea, Germany, Brazil, India, or the Americas.
Directives and requests originating in Korean headquarters radiate to global operations.
In turn, inputs from local working teams, Korean and Western, make their way back to Korea impacting decisions by leadership. Relationships also play a strong part in this process.
What may appear one-sided and perhaps top-down may be the result of months of study, benchmarking, and research, as well as internal discussions and Korean peer input.
For reasons unclear to local overseas teams, projects can stall, while others re-boot.
Amid the disruptive business conditions, how overseas teams, Korean and Western, working in collaboration matters.
We all recognize that within divergent cultures and mindsets, both sides must bend, compromise, and adapt, as both are parts of a greater whole.
That said, at times tensions culminate in relationships between Korean and Western teams that can become confrontational or stall.
The good news in this era of disruptive business the most strained relationships can be repaired.
A negative relationship turned positive can be a very strong one.
Here are some key takeaways from the Harvard Business Review article, “Fixing a Work Relationship Gone Sour” (2014).
1. Give up on who’s wrong or right
2. Look forward, not back. You can take a solution-focused approach.
3. Understand from the other person’s perspective. “How do they see things?” “What are their contextual factors that need to be considered?”
4. Instead of debating what went wrong and who is at fault, create a space where you’re aligned. It can be helpful to focus on the bigger picture — the common, shared goal.
5. Don’t assume that things will change immediately ¬— repairing relationships can take time
All said, my work is focused on working through challenges and providing teams with solutions. As always, let’s talk and discuss the options.
Monday Morning Culture Lesson—Korean Business Relationships
By Don Southerton
As I shared in Korea Perspective (2015) there is an interconnectedness in the Korean workplace. In particular, complex relationships abound.
This is true whether workplace operations are in South Korea, Germany, Brazil, India, or the Americas.
Directives and requests originating in Korean headquarters radiate to global operations.
In turn, inputs from local working teams, Korean and Western, make their way back to Korea impacting decisions by leadership. Relationships also play a strong part in this process.
What may appear one-sided and perhaps top-down may be the result of months of study, benchmarking, and research, as well as internal discussions and Korean peer input.
For reasons unclear to local overseas teams, projects can stall, while others re-boot.
Amid the disruptive business conditions, how overseas teams, Korean and Western, working in collaboration matters.
We all recognize that within divergent cultures and mindsets, both sides must bend, compromise, and adapt, as both are parts of a greater whole.
That said, at times tensions culminate in relationships between Korean and Western teams that can become confrontational or stall.
The good news in this era of disruptive business the most strained relationships can be repaired.
A negative relationship turned positive can be a very strong one.
Here are some key takeaways from the Harvard Business Review article, “Fixing a Work Relationship Gone Sour” (2014).
1. Give up on who’s wrong or right
2. Look forward, not back. You can take a solution-focused approach.
3. Understand from the other person’s perspective. “How do they see things?” “What are their contextual factors that need to be considered?”
4. Instead of debating what went wrong and who is at fault, create a space where you’re aligned. It can be helpful to focus on the bigger picture — the common, shared goal.
5. Don’t assume that things will change immediately ¬— repairing relationships can take time
All said, my work is focused on working through challenges and providing teams with solutions. As always, let’s talk and discuss the options.
Dsoutherton@bridgingculture.com