Culture and hand phones

“Why do you turn off your hand phones on weekends and holidays?”  This was question a Singaporean, just returning from Australia, asked me the other day.

Some cultural differences are easy to see and explain.  In Russia, they wear big fury hats because it can get really cold.  In Indonesia, sarongs are very common, because it‘s always hot.

But what if the cultural difference is a behavior or a value?

In an attempt to understand the invisible differences of culture, Geert Hofstede did an extensive study from 1967 to 1973.  He interviewed over 10 000 IBM employees in more that 70 countries. 

Hofstede decided that to explore cultural differences you could use five dimensions: Individualism, Power distance index, Masculinity, Uncertainty avoidance index and Long-term orientation.

I think it is the first two that impacts on the way we manage hand phone etiquette.  

Individualism 

This dimension looks at whether a society places more importance on the individual or the collective. 

I read of an interesting study in a book called The Geography of Thought by Richard E Nisbett.  Two groups, one Japanese and one American, were shown an aquatic scene.  When asked to describe the scene, the Japanese started by talking about the scenery, “The bottom was very rocky.”  The Japanese saw all things as connecting and all are a part of the greater one.  The Americans just saw he fish!

Westerners tend to think that the individual come before the state or organization.  Rewards tend to be individual and standing out from the crowd is positive.  In Singapore, most companies will give all the workers a bonus rather than focus on the individual. 

So, how does all this relate to hand phones?  Someone who works in a collective society feels a greater responsibility for the whole.  Should the need arise, that person must be available.  Someone from an individualist society is likely to see work as ending at 5.30 on Friday.  After that, his or her time is his or her own time.  Therefore, the phone is turned off. 

Power distance index

Hofstede says that the power distance index (PDI) focuses on, “… the degree of equality, or inequality, between people in the country's society.” 

I prefer to think of this dimension in a slightly different way.  High power distance implies a lot of hierarchies and top-down communication.  Put simply, you respect the boss who tells you what to do and you do it.  Low power distance has flatter structures and a greater degree of multi-directional communication.  Put simply, giving critical feedback to your boss doesn’t scare the socks off of you.

Singapore still has a lot of top-down communication.  I remember a client who asked for a certain document.  “But it doesn’t contain any information you don’t already have,” I tried to explain.

 “My boss asked for it!” she said point blank. I immediately produced the document.  What the boss says goes.  No questioning and no explanation needed.

The opposite is true of Australia.  Although there are definitely hierarchies with different powers and decision-making responsibilities, any level can communicate with any other level.  Bosses are respected but also expected to explain their decisions.

So, how does all this relate to hand phones?  Of course Singaporeans are going to leave their hand phones on.  The boss might call and not to be contactable could be interpreted as disrespect.  In Australia, when the weekend comes, your boss no longer has seniority.  So the phone gets turned off.

Culture and business

Understanding other cultures is becoming a key skill in global business success.  In the programs we run at Maura Far Workshops (MFW), we often practice “pacing.”  Pacing is simply adapting the way you communicate to the style of the person you are communicating with.

We also need to pace the culture of counties that we are conducting business in.  So, if you are doing a presentation in Japan, maybe it is best to use less eye contact.  If you are having a business meeting in Jakarta, be prepared for it to start late.  Never be late in Germany. 

Instead of getting annoyed at the idiosyncratic behaviors of a different culture, marvel at the diversity and just turn off your hand phone at 5.30 when you are in Australia. 

Paul Tolton is Head of Corporate Sales – Asia for Maura Fay Workshops.  He has been living in Asia for eight years and is a much sought after public speaker and trainer in the region.