- Be radically open-minded about other’s culture and timezones
- Get comfortable with discomfort. Say what you want to say. Dont be afraid to voice your opinions.
- Turn on your video camera
- Be knowledgeable of Singapore. Be proud of Singapore and who you are.
Have you ever worked with a mainland Chinese national? Or an Indian national? Or an American? I am sure you have your own innate stereotypes and caricatures of these different personalities. We might laugh at YouTube videos we watch satirising these cultures or individuals, or read about them in the news. We might think we will always be working alongside Singaporeans, people who understand “aiyah, never mind lah”, or “why you liddat one”. However, our dear DPM has recently announced a new immigration policy to attract new technology talent from all over the world. As Singaporeans, we can either complain (as we are renowned for doing) about how foreigners are taking away our jobs, or learn to work alongside them.
Let’s go into a short spiel about why it is necessary to open our borders to foreign talent. Well, it is so that we remain globally competitive and relevant. Imagine Singapore without Grab, or Shopee or Lazada or HaidiLao. Just in case you didnt know, all these companies were set up by foreigners, who chose to call Singapore their home.
So, on to the question, how do we work well in teams made up of diverse nationalities and cultures ? I have several ideas on how to, from my experience working with people from London, Beijing, and California, on several projects recently.
Firstly, we can try to be open minded! Before we go on, can you recall when was the last time you spoke to a non Singaporean? We tend to get so caught up in the mentality that what we Singaporeans do is always right, that we forget that sometimes, our friends from overseas, who comprise a minority here, might have a better perspective. Ray Dahlio, the founder of Bridgewater Associates, a billion dollar investment fund, names this practice an idea meritocracy, where we try to foster an environment such that the best ideas thrive, no matter where they come from. I think a step we can take is to remember that every idea has merit, and to remember that every person has his/her own perspective. Over the course of several days, I learnt a lot more about different cultures, and I realised that everyone has something to teach us. Even if someone might be a Phd student, it doesnt mean that he would know it all. Another important point to consider is the timezone. As I was working with people in London, who were 8hours behind, I had to schedule meetings at night in Singapore to accomodate their time zone. We have to find a compromise to work together, and sometimes, what would keep me going, is having that shared goal or vision that could bridge any cultural differences that we have.
Secondly, I think many Singaporeans are shy, including myself. Initially, I did not even want to participate in this hackathon, as I felt like a minority. I was joining a hackathon with two of the most prestigious schools in the world, and I felt small by comparison. I thought I would give the networking session a miss, and allow the organisers to allocate our teams. However, I eventually mustered up enough self confidence to talk to people, and introduce myself. I found that it was really not as nerve wracking as it seemed, and I really enjoyed getting to know people. Finally, I managed to really click with one guy, and he and I ended up forming a team together! It really isnt as bad as you might think. Once you are in a team, another struggle begins. You need to fight to get heard, especially if you are in a group of boisterous, garrulous individuals! Dont fret, a trick to always get your voice heard, even if you arent sure what to say, is to be the guy that summarises everything at the end. Alternatively, you can be the guy that clarifies a person’s views, and asks questions. This actually also makes you look smarter, and might give you additional gravitas as the leader of the team.
Thirdly, I recommend turning on your video camera, and just getting to know the person. Dont dive right into work, but spend some time observing how the other party interacts. Ask him/her questions about his/her personal life, and actually this forms a closer bond between you and your team mates. This fosters a collaborative working environment, and actually increases productivity as we would be more comfortable expressing our ideas! Seeing a person’s smile and facial expressions goes a long way in building a virtual bond with someone.
Fourthly, and finally, I’d recommend knowing Singapore well. If you arent already, be proud of Singapore! Be prepared to show it off to anyone you meet! If people asks you what is your favourite food, or what is Singapore famous for, be prepared to answer! I think it would reflect badly on us if our foreign counterparts know Singapore better than we do! In fact, I dare say you can go as far as teaching them Singlish. The conventional rule of thumb is to avoid Singlish when we are working in cross cultural teams as our counterparts might not understand us. However, I think it can actually be a symbol of endearment. It does no harm to teach our foreign friends a bit of our culture, and dialect! It also sounds pretty funny when you are talking in Singlish to your team, and they mis-pronounce certain Singlish syllables!
The future of work is going to be more globalised. We are going to be working remotely more often, and collaborating with people from all around the globe. Obviously, the high achievers among us would learn a third language, but for those of us who arent, at least be conversationally proficient in your mother tongue. We need to respect one another, to work with one another. Find out if you are suitable for a job that requires cross cultural communication at matchin.asia! We provide customised and personalised career profiling services, for free!
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