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Thai culture and the implications for business
For those of you who are foreigners who may have the opportunity to deal with Thai business people, understanding the Thai culture will help you improve your interaction with Thai's and decrease the frustration.HospitalityThai people treat foreigners as guests and not strangers even in meeting for the first time. We are usually accommodating, polite, and offer the famous friendly smile (even if we are unsure of a person).Agreement and UnderstandingWhen you are talking with a Thai, when they nod the head, it's means they are listening to you. It's doesn't mean that they agree or understand. Because we are polite, we just want to accommodate your feeling. Pitfall: don't ask do you agree or do you understand? Ask what do you think? Usually, you will get a short and broad generic reply e.g. "OK" or"good". It is then better to follow up by questioning in a polite and soft manner...Would you tell me more?CommitmentThe Thai language offers no distinction between the two words; "aggressive" and "assertive". Generally, we don't like confrontation. If we disagree with what others say (particular in the case of foreigners - due to the fact that English is the second language of most of us), we just keep quiet.. We don't make decisions quickly and prefer to speak with our colleagues outside the meeting room after the discussion. The result is that the degree of commitment is usually low after the first few meetings although others may wish it to be!Many expatriate executives find that Thai's often seem to agree in the meeting room but there is no progress. Many cases are due to a failure to understand our concept of commitment.under either understanding or commitment. An Adaptive Nation- Bangkok and Traffic Woes:Sleeping in the Parking lodgeSome people leave home early in the morning 5 or 5.30 am. They reach the office parking lodge about 6 or 7 am. They continue to sleep for an hour to compensate the short night!Early bird executivesMany executives (but not all) arrive at theoffice very early - let's say 6 or 7 am and start working straight away. Opportunity! If you want to reach these people, this is the best time since most of their secretaries are not in the office till 800am. There is no gate keeper to stand in the way.Sport ExecutivesSome executives go to a gym close to the office and do exercise before commencing work. This group of people will reach the office around 900am.Breakfast in the carSome people have to send their kid(s) to school by themselves. Many ofthem prefer to put kid on the school that has good name even it's far away from home. Result is they have to provide breakfast to their children in the car!Understanding the effect of traffic on business style in Bangkok, can make doing business with Thai's far more effective and enjoyable. Kriengsak Niratpattanasai |
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| ...from Kriengsak Niratappanasai's Thailand Tales |
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| Kriengsak Niratpattanasai Thai Danu Bank Bangkok Thailand |
| Kriengsak was one of the Asian Business Strategy & Street Intelligence Ezine's earliest columnists and continues to provide some of the most savvy advice on the Net on working in Thailand. His down to earth advice from years of working with falang and locals mixed with local folkstories continues to delight and inform. Click on Kriengsak's picture to learn more about our great friend and colleague. |
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© Kriengsak Niratpattanasai and the Asia Pacific Management Forum 1997