Imagine this scenario: You are in a meeting. There has been a call for anyone present to offer suggestions or their thoughts on what has just been discussed. Silence descends as no one speaks up. Why does this happen? Is it due to shyness? Are Malaysians shy culturally as a whole? Shyness is defined as […]
Are Malaysians Culturally Shy? Read More »
Of late, there has been much talk about gender equality. Traditionally, in most cultures, men have been favoured when it comes to high-ranking positions in the workplace. The situation is no different in Malaysia. Therefore, when it so happens that a woman does well in a traditional male type task and achieves a high-ranking position
For Profitability – A Woman’s Place Is in the Boardroom Read More »
In any business environment, you will probably hear the word “feedback” multiple times a day. People often promise to “give you feedback soon” or they “look forward to your feedback”. But the reality is that most people often do not get the honest and useful feedback that they desire. Feedback is necessary in the workplace,
6 Ways to Get Feedback from Malaysians Read More »
Through my window, I could see the PETRONAS Twin Towers dominating the cityscape as usual. They were impossible to miss, as opposed to my humble dwelling that consisted merely of a single story with a few rooms, and that looked like every other house in this poor neighbourhood. I had to be at the Twin Towers in about an
Kuala Lumpur-A City of Contrasts Read More »
‘Time is relative.’ That’s something we’ve all probably heard before, and is an interesting subject, though one we will not be dealing with in this blog. However, still on the subject of time, let’s think about how Malaysians view time. Is it valuable? A scarce resource? Or something that everyone has in abundance? Different cultures
Malaysian Rubber Time Read More »
Which approach to organization do you prefer — an equality-based one or a hierarchy-based approach? Most people would likely prefer an egalitarian approach. However, what we prefer cannot change what our society is. So what we’re going to look at today is this question: Are Malaysians more hierarchical or egalitarian? This is an important question,
Do You Prefer a Boss or a Leader? Read More »
The first thing you need to know about Malaysian culture is that their really isn’t just one culture. There are at least three in Peninsula Malaysia or as it’s usually referred to, West Malaysia, and several tribal cultures in East Malaysia located within the states of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.
Malaysian Culture 101 Read More »