When speaking of cultural differences between China and the West, much is often made of the collectivist Asian society versus the individualistic Westerners.

But a look at some of the performances of Chinese teams in the Olympics doesn’t make a strong case for being communal today. And in many cases, Chinese aren’t.

The basketball team lost its opener to the U.S.A. even with the home crowd support of superstar Yao Ming, and the men’s soccer team is a consistent source of embarrassment. China is relying on medals in more individualistic or partner sports such as diving, gymnastics, and ping-pong in its quest for the top of the medal leaderboard.

Confucian cultural norms and traditions aren’t holding true in the sports arena, and who’s to blame?

Maybe management.

The men’s soccer team has only made it to the World Cup once, yet players are making in excess of one million yuan per year, and their playboy lifestyle is followed in the news, says the New York Times.

But it’s not just the state that is having a hard time managing teams and getting them up to a competitive, international level. Businesses have to work hard to foster an atmosphere of community in order to survive China’s human resources nightmare and thrive.

“When local employees are organized into a team, there will be a tendency for talking, rather than listening. This talking should not be mistaken for interaction. Little cooperation will occur, and plans often will fail because team members will not be inclined to follow team rules,” reports one expert from the book Leadership Success in China: An Expatriate’s Guide, which was reprinted in the China Success Stories blog.

Instead of a swift kick to the groin to get your employees in shape, the authors recommend starting from the beginning.

First, choose the correct team leader. Chinese employees tend to have more emotional connection to their bosses and leaders, so someone with experience and a strong vision for their employees is vital in fostering this relationship.

Next, leaders themselves need to be cultivated; they need good role models. Leading by example is good. Videos of leaders managing groups properly also could help. Historically state-owned enterprise has left a lingering air of good models of authority, but less than stellar ones of leadership.

Finally, emphasizing cooperation is vital in a world of grown-up little emperors. A team charter or contract can be utilized to spell out exactly what is expected and agreed upon within the group. Basic things such as listening to teammates, accomplishing team goals first, and contributing equally are all things that may need reinforcing, the authors believe.

A ping-pong player is clearly easier to manage than a team of attention-getting soccer stars, but to realize the ultimate dream of Chinese world dominance, team managers could also effectively employ some of these techniques used in business – save for those pesky baijiu banquets.

    Channel: Local Wisdom     |