What is with the work ethic?

[had a gutsful]

I have been here for a while, but have recently moved to an all-local office. I am the only expat. This is the first time I have been exposed to local work culture (I have only worked directly with other westerners up till this point) and I am really, really struggling with it.

There seems to be a lot of time being wasted with "that's not my job" and total face-saving politics. People turning up late to work every day, not returning phone calls, ignoring memos etc. If I don't sit on top of someone and give them specific instructions at every point, they will simply zone out and the job is not done.

I get phone calls and emails about the most stupid things because common sense is completely absent. Clients are jerked around because no one wants to do anything more than what is stipulated in their contract, so they end up waiting much longer than they should and service is truly appalling. People take MC's on the day that projects are due. The hierarchies are just crazy, and the in-house bullying that goes on is very difficult to watch... I could really go on...

How do I deal with this kind of stuff? I am not going to leave anytime soon, so I really need to work out how I am going to deal with this without just becoming an office bully (it is beginning to feel like the only way to get through to people is by being a micro-manager - but then it almost feels like this is just caving in too).

[Dude ....]

...you are so onto it. Welcome to S'pore. Try and build their confidence for them to handle these things otherwise it will drive you around the bend. Given the copious use of the MC here (must be alot of compliant GPs) at critical moments, there is a pathological avoidance of responsibilty - hence all the FTs here to take the stick when things go "wrong" and "face" is lost.

[Vulcanl]

OP,

Please do not take this the wrong way, but your post comes off as 'whiney.' You were sent here presumably because your talents include the ability to manage Singaporeans.   

I would suggest that you adjust your style to the more casual norm here.  Do one-ones with your staff (taking them out for tea is inexpensive and the attention you are paying them in such a setting will be appreciated).  Learn about them by doing a lot of listening.  Establish trust and they will open up to you.  It is then and only then that you should go about attempting to change behavior.

This will take a while (months).  In the interim there isn't much you can do, so dial back on the reins a bit and make adjustments on your end.

Hope this helps, and best of luck to you!

[the fact_remains]

I hear ya !!

[had a gutsful]

Vulcanl, I am really not sure that taking each of the people in my office out for tea and waiting for them to open up about their personal lives is quite what is needed here, but right now, I'll just about try anything. I think your suggestion comes across as a tad patronising - I am talking about an office full of grown adults here. They aren't being "casual" (I'm a kiwi - we really appreciate casual), they are being incompetent and lazy (in my mind at least).

I was not sent here for 'a talent set that included the ability to manage Singaporeans' - would anyone really have that on their CV? (Mind you, if anyone can do it, I think it could be a skill worth mentioning!)

It may sound whiney, (I did say I was struggling and in real need of advice) but I do not have months to wait for miracles. I am expected to do my job and achieve results. Frankly, this is beginning to make me paranoid about meeting our required goals.

I have done a lot of research into the cultural differences here, and am trying to be open-minded about this, but at the end of the day we are all employed to get our jobs done. I also do not believe it is a  lack of cultural awareness on my part that saying that deadlines need to be met, clients need to be treated with courtesy (at a bare minimum), and those in management positions have no right to blatantly threaten and bully their staff.

[Vulcanl]

"...I am really not sure that taking each of the people in my office out for tea and waiting for them to open up about their personal lives is quite what is needed here..."

It is because you need to get them to trust you.  I didn't say anything about their having to tell you about their personal lives

"...I think your suggestion comes across as a tad patronising..."

You asked for advice.  I have been in your situation, so happily offered you some.  Do with it as you will

"...they are being incompetent and lazy (in my mind at least)..."

The last 5 words of this sentence get to the heart of the matter.  I think that this may be your perception only (you are the best judge of this, of course)

Times are hard and everyone is and has been under great stress for more than a year now.  To a certain extent a lot of this is out of your control.

What IS in your control is your interaction with your team.  If you can't get them to trust and then respect you, you are finished and will not succeed.  

[Strategic]

To "Had a gutsful".

Your experience is actually quite common.  Even Singaporeans who had lived and worked abroad experience the same thing when returning to manage the local workplace.  There's the cultural difference as well as the poor work attitudes to contend with ( happens in other countries, too).

Isn't it human nature to resist changes?  For me, being able to see the situation from the perspective of office staff, has helped me manage my expectations of them.  Any change introduced should first require some discussion to find out what staff feel or think (know your opposition).  Many employees resent being "bulldozed" into accepting changes (no matter how good the intentions) in one fell swoop.  A step at a time is much more productive even though you  think that there are so many things wrong with the staff.

I think taking several staff members to morning/afternoon tea or lunch can contribute to thawing the ice. Having done this before, I experienced a softening up with a few of them. Also, I focued on listening to some of their points of view and provided support and encouragement rather than criticising the way they do things. 

No matter how "urgent" the need to resolve this divide between you and your staff, you still need to proceed carefully.  One wrong move could sabotage all your efforts.  The rest is all about acquiring patience and acceptance of how people work.  Good luck to establishing a co-operative work environment.  I did it in 10 months.

[Pripps]

I also find it odd that when there are deadlines people are away on MCs or on leave. I find the most annoying habit is the hoarding of information, like it will give them job security.

[Vulcanl]

"...the hoarding of information, like it will give them job security..."

This is not unique to Singapore.  It is a very common tactic in corporate environments all over the World

[Wot Thatcher did]

Bearing in mind there's no employment protection here, select the biggest pain in the ass and fire him. Let it be known why, and it should scare the shit out of the others.

[Pripps]

"...the hoarding of information, like it will give them job security..."

This is not unique to Singapore.  It is a very common tactic in corporate environments all over the World

actually it is not that common when u work in my line of work where you are supposed to be a team, first time i have seen this.

[nonsense]

"...the hoarding of information, like it will give them job security..."

This is not unique to Singapore.  It is a very common tactic in corporate environments all over the World

Is it really that common? Hoarding of information from people in your department? Colleagues that your work with - and are supposed to be in a team with?

I have never seen this happen anywhere else, and I have worked in many parts of the world. It is frustrating and very counter-productive. The stupid thing is that it doesn't even benefit the person doing it. It's extremely childish: a bit like keeping all the sandpit toys to yourself just in case the other kids might say they want them later.

Vulcanl, why is it that every time someone says something about Singapore in a negative light, you take it personally and make up stupid excuses for why this happens?

[Old Mike]

Is it really that common? Hoarding of information from people in your department? Colleagues that your work with - and are supposed to be in a team with?

It is a symptom of the organisational culture, rather than of nationality. The behavior dates back hundreds of years:

The famous phrase scientia potentia est is a Latin maxim "For also knowledge itself is power" stated originally by Francis Bacon in Meditationes Sacrae (1597), which in modern times is often paraphrased as "knowledge is power."

If individuals in an organisation perceive that their only chance of advancement, or even survival is to hang on to particular bits of knowledge they will act in this way.

[Culture Shock]

"Vulcanl, why is it that every time someone says something about Singapore in a negative light, you take it personally and make up stupid excuses for why this happens?"

Its all part of the culture shock he is still suffering - he has not moved through all the stages to "Acceptance" that most mature rational persons get to in a couple of years.

He is still stuck in a very early stage as his immature outlook can not move on - pity and sympathy is the best avenue in our feelings for him.

[Vulcanl]

OK......

I didn't realize I had such a following here!!!