Thai Team Building I have just finished conducting a Team Effectiveness workshop for one of our clients. The participants shared many concerns regarding team work and the Thai management style. Here are the things that might stand in the way of creating a team work environment for Thais. Participation Our nation has a history in the monarchy system; we tend to have the behaviour of "listening to the senior". Even in our school system, we were taught by the teachers to listen and do as the teacher said. This kind of environment made us more passive in participating in either the meeting or learning environment. Furthermore, many organizations are run by an executive who is senior in age (50 year old+); they like to command the people. So, in a team environment, participation with Thais is not easy to practice. My Comment I agree on the above. If you are the leader who has got used to the top down system, you are the one that must change. It takes time and patience. People will participate. There are a few techniques that can help. The Nominal Group Techniques is one. (See detail in previous month's column). Commitment Many people say that Thais do not have good commitment. We say yes, but sometimes we do not put a whole-hearted effort into the implementation. My Comment I think we do have the same commitment as other nations, but what is missing is a natural way to gain commitment. Commitment comes from involvement. Involvement comes from participation. If you are able to encourage people to participate in management, then definitely, you will gain commitment. The point is how to create a participatory environment. Be Specific Thais like a harmonizing environment. We think that some things that are straight forward might not appropriate to communicate. So what we do is talk with vague meanings. Let the listener interpret or use their own judgement. Many time, the message is not specific enough. Hence, communication sometimes breaks down. My Comment This is the most difficult part for us. I do not know exactly how to cope with this difficulty. Any ideas? Feedback This could be related to the way we are not specific enough. Thais are confused about feedback and critique. Feedback is information regarding performance. By itself, it does not have a degree of feeling. For example, the if the boss tells his staff that they are lazy, he thinks that he is giving feedback. This is not feedback, but is critiquing by labelling your judgement on the people. The feedback should be “You came to work late 30 minutes”. This is more specific. Conflict Working in teams, conflict is part of life. Thais do not like conflict. By definition, we think that conflict is negative. We do not like confrontation. When conflict arises, we try to avoid it. But, we talk outside the meeting room or behind the back of the others. Result... the relationship is damaged My comment This difficulty can be dealt with. First, we have to educate people that conflict is not the bad thing. Further, conflict has its own benefit. However, we need to instill techniques on how to manage such conflict. I agree that our history and school system causes some difficulties. However, we do have a new generation in the new education system. They would like to be involved and participate in management. They learn from the TV, internet, and other media. The point is that people at the top must change. Otherwise, they will be forced to change. I have seen many Multi National Corporations (MNC's) run by Thais. Those MNC's can implement the team concept successfully. People there are very active in participation and involved in management. They enjoy the specific communication and conflict. The point is not the culture, its the environment that frames people's behaviours. Kriengsak Niratpattanasai DBS Thai Danu Bank, Bangkok, Thailand

...from Kriengsak Niratappanasai's Thailand Tales

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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