http://www.lovingworkandleading.com/2006/10/31/workplace-culture-shock-in-hong-kong/ How to love what you do, especially if you're the boss Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:50:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.lovingworkandleading.com/2006/10/31/workplace-culture-shock-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-3 Anonymous Thu, 15 Mar 2007 05:23:24 +0000 http://www.lovingworkandleading.com/2006/10/31/workplace-culture-shock-in-hong-kong/#comment-3 Hi John, It's so amazing to me how far off track we can get through very subtle assumptions. Having been in Hong Kong so long now, I enjoy going back to Canada and noticing what wrong assumptions I can make or how communication can get lost because I don't have all the subtle background information that is expected. Life is so rich in this way. You prompt me to think of making a list of the major assumptions that catch Westerners coming to Hong Kong. What else is on that list? *Thanks for being the first to post a comment to my blog ..yeah!* Hi John,
It's so amazing to me how far off track we can get through very subtle assumptions.
Having been in Hong Kong so long now, I enjoy going back to Canada and noticing what wrong assumptions I can make or how communication can get lost because I don't have all the subtle background information that is expected. Life is so rich in this way.
You prompt me to think of making a list of the major assumptions that catch Westerners coming to Hong Kong. What else is on that list?
*Thanks for being the first to post a comment to my blog ..yeah!*

]]> http://www.lovingworkandleading.com/2006/10/31/workplace-culture-shock-in-hong-kong/comment-page-1/#comment-2 Anonymous Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:36:53 +0000 http://www.lovingworkandleading.com/2006/10/31/workplace-culture-shock-in-hong-kong/#comment-2 Great post - I remember this one from the Post when it first appeared and chuckled at some of my own learning through what is now 5 years in Hong Kong. One of the most important things we can all do, I think, is to allow room for our own private lives--its a restorative. And putting out radar as to cultural clues is vital--the small things reveal a lot. Ever notice (!) mobile phones on the MTR, seeming personal calls made in public places? Could be that many people seek privacy in the anonymity of the crowd...that reveals something about close quarters at home, and supports the idea that an office can become a relished private space. Long hours might not have less to do with workload and more to do with control over "personal" space. Understanding that can help change the dynamic that arises when a new boss sees the long hours and assumes too much about what that might mean. Thanks for the chance to reflect on this one. Great post – I remember this one from the Post when it first appeared and chuckled at some of my own learning through what is now 5 years in Hong Kong.
One of the most important things we can all do, I think, is to allow room for our own private lives–its a restorative. And putting out radar as to cultural clues is vital–the small things reveal a lot.
Ever notice (!) mobile phones on the MTR, seeming personal calls made in public places? Could be that many people seek privacy in the anonymity of the crowd…that reveals something about close quarters at home, and supports the idea that an office can become a relished private space. Long hours might not have less to do with workload and more to do with control over “personal” space. Understanding that can help change the dynamic that arises when a new boss sees the long hours and assumes too much about what that might mean.
Thanks for the chance to reflect on this one.

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