How to make a multicultural workplace work

Entering the Chinese market is exciting and challenging for many multinational companies wanting to live the “China Dream”.

However, even more than in other new markets, understanding the business culture is vital. A problem often revealed too late for multinationals arriving in China is creation of a “globalised local team” in their offices. How to transmit the company’s foreign culture and vision and exchange ideas while localising operations and business style?

First, there is no point trying to “Westernise”, You don’t arrive in China and say: “This is how we do business”, unless you intend to hit local professionals with a big culture shock. What works in the West does not necessarily work in China, and the solution to adaptation varies depending on your organisation. You should first work with the local market and implement a corresponding strategy. The most successful companies make compromises, by integrating ideas and absorbing market specificities slowly. There is really often a need for structure and strategy rather than simple “language-adaptation” of the business.

Keeping clear company objectives, but adding structural changes when doing business, and also the way the strategy is implemented: it must serve the needs of the China market while adapting to the reality of the country (bureaucracy, importance of personal relationships, etc).

Setting clear goals with employees at the beginning - is a great way to ensure smooth co-operation and communication without overwhelming staff with cross-cultural misunderstandings.

Building trust within the multinational and local workforce, making them feel comfortable, is the best way to foster ideas, creativity and innovation. Companies can localise their managers or hire locals to work with employees. In all cases, establishing TRUST is essential but difficult in the first phase of developing your office. Chinese and Western managers should communicate as much as possible. Due to cultural differences, it is often harder for a Chinese manager to discuss things with Westerners.

Launch specific training and team building- A lot of companies use their HR department in dealing with management and leadership issues. Shorten the bridge between East and West among international employees.– at Antal China for example, we provide daily business English training and regular international communication workshops, but also more traditional activities: business trips and team building, for instance, are an excellent way for everyone to mix and learn from each other, fostering trust between employees and managers.