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Over a period of eight years, I've worked in India in various multinational companies. I've had the opportunity to experience Work-Life-Balance of normal working class people, both in India and in Germany. I believe that success in business ultimately boils down to understanding different cultures beyond the surface. Doing business with different cultures can be difficult especially if you look at it in the light of your own culture.
Building a good, business friendly relationship with your Indian colleagues is one of the keys to successful business. Indians are more relationship oriented than task oriented and tasks are completed faster, if you have the right contacts. In this post, we'll look at some important cultural differences.
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Being punctual is extremely important in certain cultures where “time is money”. Business in India is often relaxed; you always have time to listen to people, make time for unforeseen situations and work long hours. It is key to understand the importance time is given as it directly affects how we meet deadlines, start and end work, schedule appointments, etc.
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While some cultures can say “no” without much hesitation, Indian cultures find it extremely difficult to do so.
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Read the other articles in our Intercultural series:
Do you have specific questions about how to deal with international colleagues or partners? Or, have you gained cultural insights through your work in different countries? Let us know!
More about our intercultural seminars or the IAP.
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“No” is considered to be negative, blunt and rude. “No” means not even trying. “No” could also mean showing incapability. Very often these cultures try to sound optimistic by saying “yes” or “I'll try” even if they are certain the answer is a “no”. Building a friendly business relationship and trust will encourage your Indian colleagues to say “no” when needed. Assure them that a “no” is really appreciated instead of a “yes” or “I'll try” when actually the answer is ”no”. Encourage them with examples of your own when you had to say no and things turned out better as a result. This is a BIG cultural difference, bigger than you think. It will take time, but once it works, doing business will be a lot easier.
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Society as a collective plays a very big role in India. "We" works a lot better than "you" or "I". People's opinions are more important than what an individual thinks about himself. Mistakes, big or small, are seen as failure. This doesn´t mean that if you notice a mistake, you let it go or don't breathe a word about it. It just means that you have to be sensitive while pointing out mistakes.
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Don’t focus on what's wrong, focus on how you can correct it.
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“Anup, if you remember we spoke about this software issue last time. We noticed the software wasn't working as expected because of XYZ. We should eliminate this problem so it doesn't happen again. Could you please make a note of it? You will be in charge of this issue, ok?"
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Indian culture needs to be told verbally “everything is ok/good.” Show people you notice good work and appreciate it. Certain cultures need more motivation than others. Just a simple, “good job” or “well done” can make a big difference. Say it like you mean it. Remember your tone says more than your words.