Doing Business in South Asia

South Asia is home to world’s largest democracy, some of the fastest growing economies and booming stock markets. Traveling within the region is definitely exciting, especially for those from North America who are well acquainted with vast uninhabited spaces; the network of congested roads and buildings can be overwhelming.

South Asia is is not only a hub for history and cultural diversity, but a force to reckon with, when it comes to global business. In fact many companies from North America have outsourced some of their services to take advantage of time differences in order to offer 24 h service to clients, and reap the benefits of cheaper labor costs.  In the years following the post colonization era foreign investment in South Asia still continued, and although there was a decrease in foreign direct investment in 2012 companies still continue to look favorably upon the region for investment opportunities. South Asia remains a lucrative market and it is always advantageous to be better acquainted with the cultural and social aspects of conducting business in the region.

Our experience in conducting business in South Asia coupled with our knowledge of the cultures prevalent in the region, has provided us with insight in to the business etiquette and protocol used within South Asia. Here are a few business etiquette tips for doing business in South Asia:

1. Time isn’t always money
Don’t expect your 9 a.m. meeting to start on time. Your South Asian counterparts may arrive as late as 9.45 and will not be concerned that they are not on time. This can be frustrating to business associates from North America where punctuality is essential and it is considered rude to be late for a business meeting.

2. There is never a direct No
South Asian society is very polite and its best to avoid using the word “No” during business dealings. “We’ll see”, “Possibly”, “May be” are phrases that can replace the word “No”.

3. Refrain from ordering beef
Opt not to order beef at business meetings as cows are considered sacred in India, which is the largest country in the South Asian continent.

4. Quit your wine-ing
It’s best to limit alcohol to just one glass or none at all as some of the South Asian countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh  are prominently Muslim and alcohol is not permitted.

5. Take my card
Business cards play an important part in conducting business in the region. Business cards are  presented with both hands, like a gift. Take a few minutes to read and look over the card. Do not just put it away or keep it lying around. After taking a good look at it, put it away in a safe place.

6. Titles matter
At business meetings, stick to the hierarchical structure. Credentials and titles matter in South Asia.

7. Religious celebrations are often national holidays
Prior to meeting business colleagues, ensure that you are aware of any religious holidays as most religious festivals are marked by a national holiday. For example, Sri Lanka celebrates the festivals of four religions, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam.

8. Guess who’s coming to dinner
If invited to a colleague’s residence, do not refuse trying out any food that is offered to you. If you do refuse it, it will be taken as an insult. It’s best to at least taste it out of respect for the host.

9. Do not open
If you receive a gift from a business colleague, do not open it in the presence of the one who gave it to you.

10. Suit up
Men are generally expected to wear a suit and women are expected to be modestly dressed in a business suit or pant suit.

11. Let’s do lunch
Do not expect to seal the deal at the very first meeting. Building a relationship matters most in this part of the world and the business deal would follow after the relationship is established.

12. It’s not what you know it’s who you know
Knowing people of influence goes a long way in any business relationship in this part of the world. You will be treated differently if you’re known to someone who is higher up in the corporate structure.

Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting

21 Questions : Things you should and shouldn't ask your potential employer

Interviews are an essential stepping stone to landing a job. Most candidates expect to be grilled and tested by their interviewers but few remember that asking questions themselves is an important part of the interview process.

Being prepared for your interview and knowing what questions to ask potential employers not only demonstrates your interest in the job and the company, but it’s a key indicator of confidence as well.

In this post we examine the questions you should and shouldn’t ask your interviewer.

Let’s start with the questions you should ask :

Company Centric Questions:

1. What is the company’s culture like?

2. What type of leadership style/philosophy does the company employ?

3. Are there opportunities for growth and advancement within the company?
4.Does the company offer education and professional development opportunities?
5. What sets the company a part from its competitors from a public and insider perspective?

Job Specific Questions:

6. Can you describe the responsibilities of the position?

7. What is a typical day in the position like?

8. What is a typical work week like and is overtime expected?

9. What is the typical career trajectory for someone in this position?

10.What are the top three essential skills required to succeed in this position?

11. What specific skills and qualities would your ideal candidate possess?

12. Is this a new position or did someone leave this position?

Questions for your information:

13.Would you like me to provide a list of references?

14. If I am extended a job offer, how soon would I be expected to start?

15. When do you expect to make a decision? Next steps?

Questions to Avoid:

16. What is your background? How did you get the job?

17. Did I get the job?

18. Do you do background checks?

19. What does the company do?

20. Do you have any concerns about me or my qualifications that would prevent me from getting the job?

21. How quickly will I be promoted/ get a raise?


Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting

Decoding the Dress Code

What is a Dress Code? It is a standard or a norm that acts as a guide to let us know what is appropriate to wear to a certain place or event. Whether it be a business event or a social event, it is important to give a good first impression.  When attending any event, it is courteous to adhere to the dress code. An event can be informal or formal and within these two definitions are different dress codes. 

An informal event can have a Lounge, Smart-casual or Casual dress code while a formal event can have a more specific White-Tie or Black-Tie dress code.

 Let’s take a look at the different dress codes that pertain to different events.

Informal Event:

 An informal event simply means that it is not formal. It means it’s definitely not a Black-Tie event. Although informal, the event would generally require a business suit. An informal dress code is typically a suit and tie for men and a suit dress for women.

An informal dress code can also be a Smart-Casual dress code. A Smart-Casual dress code is a dress shirt and dress pants but no tie for men and a sun-dress, dress, pant suit or skirt suit for women.

An informal dress code also includes a Casual dress code. A Casual dress code can mean a polo shirt and pants for men and dress or pants with shirt for women.

Formal Event:

A formal event would require a formal dress code. A formal dress code can mean a White-Tie or Black-Tie dress code.

A White-Tie dress code is the most formal dress code.  A White-Tie dress code comes in to affect after 6.00 p.m. and is usually acceptable at state dinners or evening balls. A White-Tie dress code for men is an evening dress coat, white bow-tie, white waistcoat and a starched collar shirt.

A White-Tie dress code for women is a ball gown.

The less formal dress code for a formal event is the Black-Tie dress code. The Black-Tie dress code is for an evening event mainly after 6 p.m.

The Black-Tie dress code for men is a black suit, a white dress shirt, a black bow-tie, a cummerbund, and black dress shoes. 

 

A Black-Tie dress code for women can vary but consists of a dress, either ankle or mid-calf length, gloves, stole and evening shoes.

Being aware of what traditional dress codes mean is important, not only to create a good impression at an event but also show respect to the host or hostess.

Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting

Six Tips for Managing People

Managing people is a tricky job, even for the most skilled business school grads and experienced professionals.  Being a manager is more than just delegating tasks and supervising employees; it means you are accountable to both your boss and your staff. 

Here are a few tips for managers:

1. Delegate work according to skill level and capability

As a manager your staff is there to help you achieve your goals as a department, section, or even organization. Being in charge is doesn’t give you the right to palm off tasks you don’t enjoy on your staff. You must delegate work according to your staff’s skill level and capabilities. Each member of your staff is unique and has different strengths and weaknesses;  it is your job to recognize their strengths. You need to get to know your staff and their capacities in the workplace. Remember to be fair in your delegation, resist the urge to pile work on your strongest staff members and delegate easier tasks to those who might be struggling. Make sure everyone has a fair share of responsibilities within their assigned roles.

2.  Hold weekly meetings

Weekly meetings are a common practice in most workplaces as it gives co-workers and managers alike a chance to discuss progress, plan the coming week, and initiate new tasks. Make sure you get status updates on the work you’ve delegated and ensure the participation of all your employees in weekly meetings. This  will allow you to assess how employees are dealing with the workload and determine where changes need to be made.

3. Schedule open door time

The “Open door” policy isn’t always the best approach to increase productivity. As a manager you may need time alone in your office to work, brainstorm, meet tight deadlines, and sort out your thoughts. However, your employees will have questions and concerns to discuss with you, designating a time when you will be available to address these concerns is a great way of showing your concern and approachability. It’s a good idea to schedule “open door time” every day or at

least 3 times a week; this way employees know they can talk to you about their concerns.  This practice is often adopted in academia where professors have “Office Hours” within which students can meet them to discuss grades, assignments etc.

4. Exercise open and effective communication

Open communication is the key to effective management. Managers are often the bearers of good and bad news.  When relaying messages from the higher echelons of your organization make sure you share information equally. Inform all employees at the same time.  Some managers feel that they should only share information with certain employees who they determine “need to know it” or for whom it is “relevant”. However this scenario often results in closed door meetings between the manager and just a few staff members, leaving other employees feeling left out, suspicious and anxious.  Engaging in closed door meetings of this sort is highly discouraged as it promotes division and suspicion. Of course some information needs to remain confidential but managers must be discrete about how they go about disclosing information to staff .

5. Keep it professional 

The office is a great place to network and make new friends, but it’s important to keep it professional. You may be closer to certain members of your staff than others but attempt to maintain the same level of interaction with all employees. Avoid going out to lunch with  the same staff members every week or sitting next to the same people at meetings. This makes others feel like you’re playing favourites and will result in jealousy, competition, and workplace conflict as everyone wants to be close to “the boss”.  You can engage in conversations with employees outside of working hours but remember to keep your composure.  Be polite and keep it professional, don’t get too personal.

6. Introduce team building initiatives

Initiating team building activities is a good way to foster a collectivist environment within your department and make employees feel included and welcome. Introducing office outings such as a lunch out of the office will allow you to connect with your staff in a new environment and boost morale within the department. If going out is not feasible, organizing a department potluck or simply celebrating employee birthdays with a cake or dessert is a great way to promote interaction. A collectivist environment is always better than an individualistic environment within a department or office. Managers need to make sure employees are team players working toward a common goal. 


Copyright © 2013 by Professional Edge Consulting