Thoughts on Korean Business by Don Southerton

  This is the third in my “ Executive Briefing ” series.   When examining Korean global business , we first need to recognize that no two of us are alike, and the same applies to Westerners and Koreans . Each of us has our own unique cultural strengths , skills, and work experience.   I am often reminded of the false assumption that Western executives and teams doing business in Korea believe they will “get it” and “learn as they go.” Without continuous coaching, this common default rarely succeeds. Even more problematic is that some team members, without support and mentoring, may “never get it.”   Arguments that such support can wait often come with a price tag, missteps along the way, poor productivity , and miscommunications .   A push back attributed to the costs for support is often cited, too, as well as what appears to be dismissing or delaying any action until there is a real, unavoidable need.    The latter can range from denial with hopes...

  How 50 Years of Martial Arts Shaped a Global Business Career Another Side of Don Southerton : Master Instructor My public image is that of a passionate Korea-facing global business consultant, coach, trainer, strategist, social commentator, and author.  Throughout my career, I have been frequently called upon by major media outlets to provide expert commentary on Korean business culture and its impact on global organizations.  I have contributed insights to The Economist , BBC World Service , CNN , Bloomberg TV , The Wall Street Journal , Forbes , Automotive News , The New York Times , CNBC , and NIKKEI Asia . I’m a frequent guest columnist for Branding in Asia .  Additionally, I maintain a robust digital presence on Medium , LinkedIn , a YouTube channel, and over a thousand blog posts on Korean business topics across various platforms, serving more than 10,000 professionals worldwide who work with Korean organizations. Beyond my consulting and media work, I have ...

  By Don Southerton   Q. Why do we need Korean cultural training A. This may be the first time working with a Korean team. This opportunity brings with it a great opportunity and the need to better understand the new partner’s culture, workplace norms, and expectations. In most cases, Western teams will interact with the Korean HQ and expatriate teams. Some of the teams will hold a line managerial position with day-to-day responsibilities alongside Western managers, while others will hold key management C-level positions, such as CEO, COO, or CFO . In many, if not most, cases, these teams may operate as a “shadow management” with considerable oversight and operational control over local operations. With the best of intentions, the Korean teams will look to build strong collaboration and teamwork and try to avoid a sense of us and them. However, they do bring Korean work norms that can conflict with Western work-life balance and Western working methods.  More so, Korean ...