LEADERSHIP ACROSS CULTURE: WESTERN VS. ASIAN
There is no doubt that there are multiple cultures across the world. To simplify those cultures, people usually divide them into two categories: Western and Asian cultures. Western culture includes countries like America, the United Kingdom, and Australia. On the other hand, Asian countries include Indonesia, Japan, China, and Korea. The difference between these opposite sides could lead to multiple conflicts in international business.
According to the picture above, which one of the two fish is the leader? Some might say that the ‘a’ fish is the leader, and some might say that the ‘b’ fish is the leader. It all depends on where you are and what culture you grew up in. 94% of Americans would choose the ‘b’ fish as the leader, and 80% of Asians would choose the ‘a’ fish as the leader (Monet et al., 2010). This is an example of a slight difference in view between the two cultures.
Culture is complicated. However, there are some key differences between these cultures :
1. Asians have a more defined hierarchical system.
In Asian culture, children were taught to respect the elderly and treat them with the utmost respect. This translates to the strict hierarchical system that most Asian countries have. On the other hand, Western families have a more flexible approach to this, which translates into a flatter hierarchical system in the workplace.
2. The higher percentage of individualism in the Western workplace.
To no one’s surprise, Westerners emphasized independence. In Asian countries, however, families are always prioritized which leads to a more collectivist mindset.
3. Building relationships is harder in the Asian workplace
Asians prefer a professional workplace rather than an informal one. Getting too close to your boss might be perceived as a bad thing in Asian culture, as people would assume that you have ulterior motives. Such is not the case in Western culture, since a good relationship with your superiors is perceived positively.
4. Westerners are much more open to challenges
As far as conflict goes, Westerners are much more open to them. They see them as a way to grow. That is why they are much more open to challenges. Meanwhile, in Asian culture, people tend to stay inside their comfort zones.
5. Indirect vs. direct communication
Politeness is a virtue in Asian culture. Disagreeing with adults is seen as impolite. That is why most Asians refer back to indirect communication as a way to communicate their dissatisfaction. Meanwhile, disagreement is seen as a good thing in Western culture. That is why most Westerners tend to use direct communication.
These are just some examples of the differences between the two cultures. It is also worth noting that stereotyping could be harmful and cultures are too complicated to simplify. Seeing things from the country’s perspective can be helpful in terms of preparing yourself. However, every individual is different within a culture, and you need to experience those cultures by yourself to see that.
References
Menon, T., Sim, J., Fu, J. H.-Y., Chiu, C., & Hong, Y. (2010). Blazing The Trail Versus Trailing The Group: Culture and Perceptions of the Leader’s Position. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 113, 51–61.
Simmonds, A. (2016, September 13). Asian vs. Western Leadership Styles. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/asian-vs-western-leadership-styles-andrew-simmonds
Sordo, A. I. (2015, October 23). Beyond Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory: Approaching a Multicultural Audience. Skyword. https://www.skyword.com/contentstandard/beyond-hofstedes-cultural-dimensions-theory-approaching-a-multicultural-audience/