Coming from a country where 'Yes' means '100% Yes', it is amazing to be faced with a total different reality in Pune, India. The majority of our suppliers and local customers say 'Yes' to many of the requests put forth to them, but most of these sayings mean nothing more than 'I heard what you said'. 'Yes', as a reply from a relation here has to be followed by the question from my side: 'your 'Yes' containes which percentage of 'No'?' So by the time I've figured out that the 'Yes' was '100% No' I have wasted a lot of time... It is amazing what levels of frustration this causes, but at the same time an incredible opportunity when managed well. It is really cool to see to relationships being so different from the Western style, but at the same time by asking more questions solving some very basic misunderstanding.
'Yes' does not always mean 'Yes', and 'No' not always 'No'. If somebody asks you something here and you say 'No' they will ask again, thinking you means 'Yes', but you will only say that after a couple of "No's". I have seen large business deals being cancelled because of this simple misunderstanding... Before going to India to take part in one of the largest markets in the world today, I have to balance my Dutch and Indian culture very careful every day. Yes! the people we are employing and working with on a daily basis slowly, but steadily change. (Yes = 100% Yes works very efficiently :))
No comments:
Post a Comment