Constructive criticism or an insult?
By Ron Cune
In the Western world and especially in the Netherlands, open exchanges of view and fair discussions are very common. This sort of verbal interaction has a positive positively interpreted connotation. It is a proof the discussion partner is interested in you and your opinions.
How different this is in the Chinese society. Any confrontation directly showing disagreement or questioning the things said, will be interpreted as if you have second thoughts about the other’s personal experience or worse, about the person himself. Chinese counterparts feel attacked by receiving comments, this is a cultural issue. The term constructive criticism is therefore not very well known in China.
So, introducing any contradicting opinion is a sensitive matter in China. Moment and situation are highly important factors that influence the outcome of your –probably- well meant remarks. When the expected result of a remark is uncertain or the timing isn’t perfect, we strongly advise to wait with providing feedback.
Whenever the situation is urgent and immediate action and criticism is unavoidable, some golden rules can help making the best out of the situation.
- Realize your position towards your Chinese partner. In China seniority is valued more important than in the Western culture. A junior party seldom provides any comments at all.
- Try to discuss any sensitive matters privately and avoid bringing comments during a meeting or when third parties are around.
- Highlight the improvement following out of your remarks and also stress the personal advantages for the person related.
- Most important of all: smile when providing constructive critics. A nice smile always works.
Even when following these instructions it’s to be expected people will feel offended. A common reaction is denying responsibility or influence. The ‘circumstances’ are outside the range of the person abilities. Just go along this line of argumentation. Do not pretend these were all personal ideas, but try to find a connection with the (company’s) culture, laws, profit margins and topics that suit the situation.
Although it may seem as walking on a thin line, a well considered pragmatic mentality in the Chinese society will get you much further than the Dutch no-nonsense attitude.
Ron Cune, DragonDancers
May 16th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Great analysis and suggestions Ron. A couple more possibilities are: to compliment then criticize, or as I call it, “give them face then take it away;” and “separate the person from the process or problem,” i.e., that it is not the “person” who is wrong, it is that dang difficult problem or unclear communication or overly-complicated process.
In the former Chinese will be more open to criticism if you first find a way to compliment them (even if you have to make something up–it is the thought or effort that counts); in the latter the Chinese will (might) not take the criticism personally, thus will be more open to change.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:25 pm
Good point. Smiling or nodding may means quite opposite as you think. You will have to sense the subtle things in communicating with Asian people.
If you are a leader in a group, it’s better to set rules like “对事不对人” (dui shi bu dui ren), means only facts, nothing personal, and consistently reinforce it to foster open-minded discussion. It may seems quite obviously in western societies that you don’t need to explicitly mention these things in most case.
Or bring it upfront let all members aware that we have different types of communication styles in the meeting.
May 17th, 2008 at 9:24 am
The Indian corporate sector is neither different from china. Here culturally any person feel let down if any body wish to make healthy critisism.
In Indian polity and corporates, ( Family OWNED) are prone to “Yes Sir!!! culture”
Regards
hemant paliwal