JC in India

Behaviour

The Indian style can at first seem quite abrupt, and out and about on the streets you may not experience many smiles, or feel a general warmth in some more mundane day to day activities such as visiting the local shop or getting a taxi etc. However, I have learnt that actually this is not really a sign of unfriendliness but more a general cultural trait, akin to why some cultures do not smile for photographs or other such nuance. In fact, if you take the lead with a smile and a polite gesture you are likely to find such surprisingly reciprocated. ‘Playing along’, often brings out an unexpected positive reaction, and deploying this tactic soon makes the environment feel more welcoming. Being jovial with a cheeky grin as part of the Rickshaw price negotiation will usually bring out a sly grin, a nod of the head, and a much more pleasant ride. So do not be put off by the original first perceptions of demeanour.

In a business environment, hierarchy is king and formality towards superiors is ingrained in the work ethic and culture. Be prepared for there to be very few actual decision makers, and thus the underlings will be unable/unwilling to deviate from any prescribed rules and will always seek approval from higher up. This can be particularly frustrating when having to navigate sometimes simple, ‘common sense’ requirements that still call for a burdensome level of bureaucracy to be navigated. But this isn’t the fault of the individual it is just the system. Learning therefore to be tolerant and patient when seeking to accomplish certain things is important, and while it can be annoying at times, needs to be understood. India unfortunately has evolved to having systems in place which are very focused on preventing fraud and ‘bad behaviour’. The over bias towards this means that sometimes simple activities can present real hurdles to being achieved, all of which is down to ensuring no loops in the system exist that any devious soul can exploit.

Culturally this also leads to the subservience to the boss that is evident with most seniors being referred to as ‘Sir’ or ‘Mam’, often with that label tagged onto their name as a follow on in written and spoken form. Given the vulnerability to Indian’s who lose their jobs (due to the general lack of a support welfare system for the unemployed), the drive to retain a job is very evident. Hence the effort that goes into impressing the boss can be quite a sight to see, and the amount of hours worked is often viewed as a sign of the capability of doing the job. It also makes matrix reporting more challenging if this is applicable as the dotted line report is not the one to necessarily deliver the job security or the promotion, so is very much viewed as a lower level of importance to respect.

So, it may take time to get things done. There may be painful bureaucracy in place to deliver such. And the hierarchy of decision making can make things difficult to get a straight answer. Perseverance and patience are key, but also understanding the culture and learning to work within it, rather than seeking to change it is most important. As I have always said, the Indian system is not necessarily wrong, it is just different. And therefore it needs to be learned and understood for what it is, and managed accordingly.