To those Farangas (this is how Thais call foreigners) who want to start their own business in Thailand or work as at least an average manager, it is necessary to know the mentality and work habits of Thai people. Knowing how to work with Thais is taught in many business courses and manuals, published both electronically and in traditional, paper form. All the knowledge given there can be summarized in a few postulates on working with a Thai team.
Time is not money
If you’re just starting work in Thailand, you might find it strange that Thais are constantly late for business rendezvous. It’s a local custom. Some managers amuse themselves by making appointments for several Thais at the same time. Never once have they come at the same time. A Thai will only be on time if being late means harming himself. For example, between lunch and arriving on time, he will definitely choose lunch.
Chao, bambino!
Thai personnel break their employment relationship abruptly if they decide the job isn’t right for them or it’s time to solve personal problems. Except they don’t say “sorry.” They can quit immediately after receiving Thai salary or come back for part of what they earned later. They will not condescend to explain their reasons for leaving.
Shadow government
Working with Thais is full of surprises. Often not very pleasant ones. When you put a young and promising local person in a managerial position, get ready for the fact that he will not be ranked at all. All because Thai team has its own horizontal hierarchy. If there are those in it who are older or higher in origin than your creator, they are the “shadow government” on whose word everything will depend.
Thai
From-work-horns…
Thai people don’t have as many official vacations as Russians do. However, they have a very good loophole to arrange them whenever they want. According to Thai laws, every citizen is entitled to 30 paid sick days per year. For this reason, your subordinates or colleagues could at any time stick a band-aid on their forehead and, muttering about “mai sabai”, take their leave. Looking for draughts and recreational activities in the office is useless. The Thais remember their right to rest and use it unscrupulously.
Every-bat-in-sight
Thai personnel know everything about your company’s financial condition. There is no such thing as commercial secrecy within the team. Every transaction through the accounting department is discussed. Just as actively your Thai staff discusses and who has what salary. Looking into the neighbor’s wallet and boasting about the contents of theirs is a favorite entertainment of Thais.
You-boss-me…
Having general meetings and brainstorming sessions in Thai companies is a futile exercise. You will never hear a personal opinion about this or that problem even if your employee is an excellent know English. That’s how they were brought up from childhood: “To a subordinate, in the presence of a superior, look dashing and a little foolish…”. However, the Thais are not hopeless. If you make them come not with a problem for which you have the “right” answer, but with a ready-made solution or full information to take it, in the end they will accept it as the right style of behavior and follow it.
Feminism-is-it?”
That “The East is a thin business…” is absolutely true of Thailand as well. The mentality of Thai men is very similar to that of Central Asians, who can sit in a teahouse all day and discuss global issues. At the same time, women work like bees. Don’t shy away from accusations of feminism by preferring to hire women, because working with Thai women is always more productive. They are very goal-oriented and hardworking. This is especially evident in lower-class women who are used to the example of their mothers to the fact that a woman literally drags the whole house on her back, including her husband, whose salary is often literally to the last baht goes on frivolous entertainment.
Love-me-fun…
In one feature, Thais are very close to us. They need something to eat to lift their spirits and relax. Often dozens of times a day. Especially women are different. If you prefer work with Thais, then consider this trait an acceptable weakness. Especially if their professional duties do not consist in representation services. True, it is necessary to show persistence and organizational skills, allocating a separate, well-ventilated room for meals. Otherwise, the entire office will exude the smells of outdoor makashnitsa.
Courtesy
Japanese people bow on and off. Thais always say “Yes” to the boss. Don’t be fooled. It is just politeness. After giving instructions do a “test shot” by asking your subordinate what he will do right now. That way you’ll know the difference between being polite and being willing to get the job done.
Theirs is scarier
If you can’t handle the tricky Thai staff, then find someone to play the role of announcing the people’s will to the lord. For example, someone from the “shadow government” mentioned above. At the same time you will get a source of information about the mood of the collective.
Interview of a Russian businessman about working with Thais
As an addition to the material you’ve read, watch an interesting video interview with Ilya Gerasimov – the owner of Fitness Club “Bear” in Pattaya about doing business in Thailand in general and working with Thais in particular.
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