Has China changed? Companies bet millions on the answer, but it’s the wrong question. You should ask if Chinese have changed. China has changed; the Chinese haven’t.

Amazing changes! New politico/economic system. New laws, social structures, buildings and consumption patterns, different clothes. Sound familiar? It should—it’s happened twice in 100 years!

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One of the foremost world authorities on trust is Francis Fukuyama of the Rand Corporation. In his definition he refers to trust as “the expectation that arises within a community of regular, honest and co-operative behaviour.” When he discusses the Chinese in a management sense, he says that Chinese have a more difficult time than Westerners to become professional managers because of their inclination to deeply trust only people related to…

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While most of the articles I’ve posted in my blog give the indication of similarities between corporate learning needs in the US and China, I’d like to capture some of the DIFFERENCES. Of course, I will have to speak in generalizations. If you find the description does not fit your situation, let us all know. We need you to fill in the gaps.

Differences in Corporate Learning: Leadership

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One of the hottest HR activities in China is executive coaching. While the “old China” might consider coaching a remedial process for executives who were failing, it is now being seen more and more as a reward for the best executives to help them progress on a faster track. This article covers the best way to select a coach in China and highlights some of the key competencies to look for in an executive coach here.

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By Greg Bissky

“Don’t be polite? What type of advice is that for dealing with the Chinese? I always heard that the Chinese were very polite people.”

Well, the Chinese are very polite people, but it’s still good advice. Of course you should be polite, just Chinese polite not Western polite. There is a big difference.

First, a brief principle about politeness: The receiver of the action, not the sender, determines whether the action is/is not polite. In other words, when I speak to you, you decide if I am polite, not me. Being polite means adapting to whom you are with and/or where you are. To change an old saying: when in Rome the Romans decide what is polite.

Each culture develops unique rules of politeness and manners. Chinese decide what is polite in China, Westerners what’s polite in the West. It’s just common sense. Or it is until you go to China, try to be polite and you are not. Then it’s confusing. Worse is, the more you try to do everything you know how to be polite the more impolite you become. Then it goes beyond confusing. Read the rest of “Don’t Be Polite With Chinese” or post a comment