Thursday 19 January 2017

Using Differences to Advantage

Interesting how different cultures are offended by different things.

Many Australian sellers seem quickly offended when you try to talk them down in price. In Chinese marketplaces it's expected behaviour - but many Australians are soon irritated and angered by it. They don't quite know how to respond. All they need to do is know their bottom line. But it seems they can't handle it. I think it's possibly due to low population, a lack of competition, and a culture of honesty.

Some Senior Pastors in some churches seem offended when a staff-person or church-members decide to move on and pursue their own vision. It has been labelled a lack of character, immaturity, lack of submissiveness, a lack of loyalty, and as dishonour. While other Christian organisations live to see as many people as possible hearing from God and obtaining their own vision for their life and beginning to step out in it. Your success is seen as their success.

In some cultures, management consults widely before making decisions. The good of the whole is always a consideration. In other cultures, management makes decisions more independently, with the success of their own vision paramount - even when it doesn't advantage others in the group so much.

Sometimes we can be different without being right or wrong. So rather than judge another person as wrong, better understand the other person, and build a bridge. If you can't change the other person's style, adapt to them. See ways of allowing their differences to be of mutual advantage.

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