Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

Digging deeper in the Toolbox, What are the Alternatives? Communicating expectations is perhaps the greatest culture-related challenge in the global Korea facing workplace. Repeatedly, I witness a gap in what is “expected”  and what is delivered, but before I share more….  In working with western and Korea teams and management, I listen carefully for questions raised in mentoring sessions and the concern that surface. I then probe to get a clear understanding. This week’s topic surfaced recently.  With regard to expectations, how for example Americans tackle a request and how Koreans would handle a request varies considerable. In the West, teams look for clear and defined objectives and goals. They then work diligently and responsibly to deliver within a set timeline and prepared to the pre-agreed parameters. Similarly, Korea teams plan and execute, but with one difference.  An unspoken “Expectation” in Korea is that the team also look beyond the...

Digging in my global Korea Facing Toolbox: The Defacto Korean Core Value Many of us are familiar with the Korean term, balli balli.  It translates as hurry-hurry. Actually, balli means hurry, but it word is always used in tandem adding to the need to move fast.  I first recall hearing the word in the 1970s in martial arts class-- my Korean instructor at times commanding we move faster in executing a kicking drills. To many Korean firms balli balli it's a defacto core value— with everything from immediately responding to requests for data to launching major projects.  More to the point, it means things need to get done today and now, not tomorrow. For westerners, moving fast can often be a concern-conflicting with the Western business model of careful meticulous study and planning before implementation. In fact, one complaint voiced with frustration by my Korean clients is how slow Westerners move on projects. In turn, my Western clients shake their head ...

From my Korea-facing Business Toolbox… In the mid-2000s, I was on-boarding a new senior executive who had been recruited from Toyota by my Korea-facing client. In one of the first mentoring sessions, he asked for the Cover Page template for the Korean company having learned to use a Toyota SOP A4 template for all reports and proposals. I knew the Korean company had a format for Korean language cover pages used in the reporting process to management, but I had not seen one in English. In fact, Western teams crafted reports for Korea, but one of the roles for the Korean expatriate coordinators assigned to local operations was translated and formatted these report for the HQ. In particular, the cover page is a standardized A4 landscape layout so management can skim over quickly and get the gist. In needed, they can then dig deeper into the report deck. Building on this, I suggest a similar format can be used in sharing reports with Korean teams and management. More so, ...

From my Korea-facing Business Toolbox… In the mid-2000s, I was on-boarding a new senior executive who had been recruited from Toyota by my Korea-facing client.  In one of the first mentoring sessions, he asked for the Cover Page template for the Korean company having learned to use a Toyota SOP A4 template for all reports and proposals.   I knew the Korean company had a format for Korean language cover pages used in the reporting process to management, but I had not seen one in English.  In fact, Western teams crafted reports for Korea, but one of the roles for the Korean expatriate coordinators assigned to local operations was translated and formatted these report for the HQ.   Don Southerton, CEO & Founder,  Bridging Culture Worldwide In particular, the cover page is a standardized A4 landscape layout so management can skim over quickly and get the gist. In needed, they can then dig deeper into the report deck.  Building on ...

The Year of the Red Monkey: energy, liveliness and success. Korea (as well as China, Vietnam, Laos, Singapore and many Asian countries) celebrate two New Years’-- one on Jan. 1 and the Lunar New Year celebration, which this year falls on February 7 th to 10 th.    Each lunar new year has an associated animal, as well as a related element like fire (red), water (black), earth (yellow), metal (white) and wood (blue), all which rotate over a 60 year cycle.  Hence, Red (Fire) Monkey, Black (Water) Snake, White (Metal) Dragon, etc.    It’s a great time to re-connect with Korean teams and friends. For your Korean colleagues (in Korea), you can wish them “Happy Lunar New Year” by phone, text, or email, late afternoon on Thursday February 4 th (so, Friday AM in Korea, which is their last day in office prior to Holiday). For expat Koreans working outside Kore...