Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

Just a reminder as Korea has some holidays coming up... In South Korea, May 1st is known simply as "Workers' Day". It is not a public holiday, but a paid holiday for workers by the Designation of Workers' Day Act. A National Holiday, Children's Day falls on a Sunday in 2019, the following Monday, May 6 will be celebrated as the holiday. Workers get a day off work and children get a day off school.  Families make an extra effort to do something special on Children’s Day. Parents will often take their children somewhere special and treat them to snacks or ice cream. One of the theme parks, zoos, and historic sites are popular places for Koreans to take their children, too. This year Buddha's Birthday, a National Holiday, falls on Sunday, May 12. Buddha’s Birthday is not only an important and auspicious day for the nation’s practicing Buddhists (a religious group that makes up approximately one-fifth of South Korea’s population), but it is also...

Part 2 Q & A looks at how to offset the unexpected. In many cases, leadership and team do need direct support. I want to strongly encourage you to reach out to me. At least for a neutral second opinion. Best, too, to engage early, and not put off until issues escalate or go sideways. Waiting rarely makes things better.  Call, text, Message or email and we can discuss.  Don

Question?  Don, working with Korea, how can we ensure projects stay on track amid changes and forces from outside of our control. Answer. Great question. I will answer in two parts, in this posting, Part 1. First, the short answer is it’s critical to stay aware and sensitive to not only the scope of the project but the broader circumstances that could impact the work.  One needs a 360 vs. a very linear mindset. In many cases, my work is providing this insight—honed over decades—more art than science. Next, have countermeasures as options already in place. To elaborate on both points… Pondering on the question, it made me reflect on within the  Korean workplace  that the most savvy, long term staff and executives are both highly intuitive, sensitive and vigilant to all that goes on around them. They read situations and adapt accordingly. Little gets by them. In particular, they even anticipate senior lead...

Hit the target 2019. A week does not go by without a colleague or client expressing deep concern for what seems an overarching and singular need for their company to reach their sales numbers. To most, despite a number of vital business initiatives, they feel the monthly demand to meet “Plan” matters most. I can recall a few years ago while mentoring a new American divisional vice president being pulled aside by his Korean expatriate counterpart, an  Executive Coordinator . The Korean who I was also coaching seemed troubled and obviously under duress. The Korean manager knew I understood the company as well as Seoul HQ expectations.  The Korean asked passionately for me to stress to the new American VP they needed to “Hit the Target.”  He repeating the phase, 3 times so to ensure I got it… then patting me on the back and sending me over to the adjacent office with the VP to share the message. Frankly, as long as I have been working with Korea facing global bus...