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 »
Culture means many things to different people. For some, it refers to the ability to appreciate fine art, music, and literature. For biologists, an image of bacteria or tissue cells in an artificial medium containing nutrients springs to mind. The official definition of the word from the Oxford English Dictionary is ‘the ideas, customs, and
Culture-Your Personal Software Read More »
1. People Learn About Themselves: Through cross cultural training, people are exposed to facts and information about their own cultures, preconceptions,mentalities and worldviews that they may otherwise not have contemplated. Cross cultural training helps people learn more about themselves through learning about others. 2. Encourage Confidence: Cross cultural training promotes self-confidence in individuals and teams through empowering them with
10 Benefits of Cross-Cultural Training Read More »
Cultural competence refers to an ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. Cultural competence comprises four components: (a) Awareness of one’s own cultural worldview, (b) Attitude towards cultural differences, (c) Knowledge of different cultural practices and worldviews, and (d) cross-cultural skills. Developing cultural competence results in an ability to understand, communicate with, and
What Is Cultural Awareness? Read More »
Here’s the helpful list. The ability to anticipate cultural expectations, absorb the reactions and readjust our language accordingly can be a highly effective tool for leadership.
The 3 Biggest Cultural Mistakes To Avoid 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 »