We often wonder what the Chinese managers really think about managing across cultures. I tried to translate the opinion expressed by 徐沛欣 Xu Peixin, the successful CEO of 红孩子Redkids
software company. This is a short extract from an official speech to Chinese business leaders in Tianjin, in september 2012: How Chinese people manage Foreigners 中国人如何管理外国人
人才上最大的问题，文化的程度，中国人如何管理一个外国人，这个不是英语能交流就可以解决的，信任还有一个问题就是做事的方式，比方说我们在跟欧洲雇员谈待遇的时候，他们最关心的是假期，他们反复强调了跟原来一样，但是我一年60天左右的休假怎么保证我，绝对不能开手机的，我要提前告诉你，而且要写在合同里，我知道你们中国人是工作狂，我要陪我太太和孩子，我要钓鱼，你要同意，我就来，我们一听这样太不敬业了。》
“HR is the biggest problem when Chinese
people have to manage foreign people. It is not a question of speaking fluent
English. There is a trust problem about the working style. For example when we
talk about salary with Europeans, they mainly care about holidays. They repeatedly
insist on their previous conditions they want to remain the same. They say: “Can you give me guarantees about my 60 days
off per year during which I will not be obliged to switch on my mobile phone? I
want to make it sure before, so let’s write it in a contract. I know you
Chinese people are work-alcoholic. I want to spend time with my wife and kids.
I want to go fishing. If you agree, I will come to work with you.” When we
hear that, we think they are not dedicated to the job.” 徐沛欣 Xu Peixin, 红孩子Redkids CEO.
This statement is all but "politically correct" ... it highlights so well our cultural differences.
