As with many Asian countries, Malaysia is known to be a face saving culture. Although the term is not commonly used in everyday conversations among Malaysians, the concept is deeply ingrained in our cultural makeup and affects everything that we do. To save face means to preserve one’s reputation, credibility or dignity and this is […]
The Concept of Saving Face in a Malaysian Cultural Context Read More »
Ever been stuck in an elevator ride alone with the big boss, nervously wondering if you should engage in small talk or give in to your instinctive desire to whip out your phone and pretend to be busy? Or seated at a friend’s wedding dinner amongst strangers who were as awkwardly silent as you were?
Small Talk in Malaysia Read More »
As a non-Malaysian, have you ever conversed with a Malaysian in English and found yourself confounded? You thought you heard some English words used, but couldn’t understand what was being said? Well, don’t be too quick to dismiss us as uneducated and backward for you have just been exposed to an entirely unique version of
Manglish – A Truly Unique Malaysian Language Read More »
Your boss has given you an important project with a set deadline. In the days that follow, would you prefer if your boss touch base with you periodically or would you rather your boss frequently drop by your desk to check on your progress and direct your every move? No doubt most people’s first inclination
Do Malaysians Like To Be Micromanaged? Read More »
The delicate art of giving feedback to Malaysians is one that many expat managers might regularly struggle with. “Should I praise/shame him in public? Do I wait until the annual performance review to give feedback? How do I motivate her to improve in a particular area? Maybe if I just ignore the issue, he’ll figure
The Art of Giving Feedback to Malaysians Read More »
As a foreigner working in Malaysia, have you found yourself in the situation below? It’s 6pm and you see your colleague get up from his seat. Instead of leaving the office though, he heads toward the pantry to pour himself another cup of coffee and stays on for another hour or two before calling it
Work-Life Balance: How Late Is a Malaysian Expected to Work? Read More »
In the workplace, it is essential to have trust. Mutual respect and trust form the foundation for strong workplace relationships. However, in a workplace where employees and employers may come from different backgrounds, cultural differences may be misunderstood and foster distrust. One such cultural difference is that of the way people view honesty. Some may
Honesty-The Malaysian Cultural Perspective Read More »
When I was very young, one of the most difficult things I had to learn was how to correctly address my multitude of aunts. In Chinese culture, there are specific titles for each family member. I couldn’t just call them Aunt Jane or Aunt Mary. I had to learn the Hokkien words for aunts number
Malaysian Hierarchy-Learned at Home Read More »
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 »