Building positive relationships with co-workers and colleagues is considered crucial for success in the Indonesian workplace. The typical Indonesian culture is hierarchical in nature, with a strong emphasis on collective decision-making and respect for authority. This culture places a high value on building and maintaining strong relationships among colleagues. It is expected that building relationships are part of any job. There is an expectation of socializing and networking outside of the workplace. The workplace is often seen as an extension of the family, with a strong sense of loyalty and commitment to the organization. However, there can be challenges when navigating cultural differences and language barriers for an expat.
The Indonesian Workplace Structure
The Indonesian workplace relationships are very hierarchical in nature. In many western office situations, everybody is expected to be treated equally with equal rights valued opinions and expected contributions. In the Indonesian office, however, the structure is typically hierarchical in nature. Information is expected to flow downward. Upper management is expected to plan and make decisions. Managers are expected to distribute the tasks and the staff is expected to execute what has been assigned to them. Very is seldom there pushback from this task distribution. To do so may be perceived as rude.
When decision-making is required, it is often escalated to the appropriate level of management. Often the feeling of empowerment in the lower levels of staff is absent in the Indonesian workplace. People may not want to take on the responsibility of decision-making and will be much more comfortable checking with a superior first, to get approval. The preferred approach is for it to be a collective decision. This is in line with the preference of not taking on too much personal responsibility. If other colleagues knew about the decision, in the event that anything goes wrong with the outcome, not only one individual would take the blame.
In the strong hierarchical structure of the Indonesian office, typically the decision of the boss is not disputed. The decision-makers do not expect pushback from staff. To do otherwise would be seen as disrespectful and sometimes out of line. This behavior however can vary from corporation to corporation and if heavy multinational behavior has been implemented in the office place, this top-down approach may not be so prevalent.
Benefits of Relationship Building
There are obvious benefits to taking the time to build relationships in the Indonesina workplace. Often it is forgotten that the success of the company frequently depends on the people who are actually executing the tasks of the management. Building strong relationships with colleagues can lead to increased trust and respect among team members. This can help to foster a positive and productive work environment.
When colleagues have strong relationships, they are more likely to communicate openly and collaborate effectively, leading to better decision-making and problem-solving. If upper management is not involved with the conversations that are happening at the front lines of their businesses they may be missing out on an obvious opportunity or worse, problems that can grow quickly affecting the business.
Having knowledge or interest regarding the culture of the people that you are working with can also help to build a stronger relationship. Taking the time to ask and listen to the cultural aspects of the people you work with, will automatically start to create a better relationship. Asking questions about a holiday they are celebrating and the importance it has or admiring an ethnic aspect of their culture can demonstrate you have interest in not only what they can do for the company but also them as a person.
Building Indonesinan workplace relationships with colleagues can provide opportunities for personal and professional growth, such as mentorship, networking, and career advancement. Colleagues who have strong relationships may also be more likely to provide and get feedback and support for each other’s growth and development.
Building relationships with colleagues in the Indonesian workplace can help to create a sense of community and belonging, which is highly valued in the culture. It can help to foster a sense of loyalty and commitment to the organization and lead to greater job satisfaction and employee retention.
Overcoming Challenges in Building Relationships
One challenge of relationship building in Indonesia for foreigners is the language barrier. Unlike neighbouring countries like Singapore, the Philippines, and India where a large part of the population are fluent English speakers, Indonesia is not. This makes it challenging for foreigners to be able to communicate freely with their work colleagues.
Although it is suggested to take Bahasa Indonesian classes to help you, it is unlikely that someone could be very fluent quickly. This means that it is important to recognize the language barrier and use as many visual aids and demonstrations to help your colleagues totally understand the message you are trying to deliver. Speak clearly and slowly as in some cases terminology and accents are difficult for a non-native speaker to understand.
While receiving information it is important to be a good listener as well. It takes longer to formulate thoughts in another language. Do not rush the conversation as it will take longer for the non-English speaker to express their opinions especially if it involves complex and technical discussions. Active listening involves giving your full attention to the other person and trying to understand their perspective. Avoiding interrupting or talking over them. Be respectful of cultural differences and to avoid making assumptions or judgments based on these differences. This can help to build trust and understanding, and can also help you to pick up on non-verbal cues that can convey meaning.
There will be conflicts in any workplace. Of course, these conflicts and problems must be addressed and discussed to find a solution. The challenge is to address the conflict in such a way as to leave the relationship in tack. It is important to be respectful of cultural differences and to avoid making assumptions or judgments based on these differences. Before addressing the conflict, it is important to understand cultural differences that may be contributing to the situation. Cultural norms, values, and communication styles can all play a role in how conflicts arise and are resolved. Make sure you understand the problem. Often when you assume what the cause might be, in fact, there might be an alternative problem that you do not understand due to your lack of local knowledge. Make sure you totally understand the issue. Look for common grounds on areas that you can agree on first before moving into the problem or issue. Express your concerns but remember to use the “I” statement so as to not put blame on anyone. When talking about the solution, it is then better to use the “we” statement. It is critical that you resolve the problem in a way and manner that is in line with the expected Indonesian office protocol to make sure not to damage the relationship.
In Conclusion
Building relationships can help to create a sense of community and belonging in the workplace, which can be particularly important for foreigners who may feel isolated or disconnected in a new environment.
The success of most expats in Indonesia will depend on the teams that they work with. This means that building relationships is vital to achieving the goals that the corporation has sent the expat to accomplish. This can help to adapt more quickly to the new environment and be more effective on the job. Being proactive in seeking out relationships is a necessity. Because of the hierarchy structure that exists in Indonesia, locals will be intimidated to make the first move therefore expats will need to be the instigator of the relationship. Taking the time needed to make relationships in Indonesia, not only will it help to ensure the success of your assignment on a professional level, but it will also have a huge effect on your personal growth and fulfilment while on assignment here in Indonesia.
