AFM280 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Manulife
30 May 2018
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Reflection 1- How culture differs between different workplaces
In the video one of the alumnus, Chester Dawes who currently works at Manulife Asset
Management mentioned how he has been to a various of workplaces across the world and has
experienced many different workplace cultures. Within each culture, there are unique ways to
approach the people and utilize people skills to get into a favorable position with the company
ad its orkers. He has leared that hat orked for hi i North Aeria did’t eessaril
work in Europe or Asia. For example, the culture in Singapore is that one can leave a job and
find another one by lunch. The differences in workplace culture made me relate to an issue that
I’e persoall eoutered durig ork ter, ad I’d ish I hae hadled it etter. Oe of
my co-workers in my workplace previously worked in China and thus has brought some of that
Chinese culture to the environment. One day when we scheduled a meeting, she came late and
was very apologetic about it. After the meeting, she insisted on buying me lunch which I politely
refused eause It as’t a ig deal to e the fat that she as’t putual. Fro that poit
o, she ega to distae herself fro e ad spoke less ad less eer da. Ee though I’e
tried to reach out to her, she would brush me away gently in an avoidance way. I was sincerely
confused about the situation, and I wanted to know the reasons. One day after work, I
approached her and had an honest talk with her to see the reasons for her recent behavior. She
then told me it was because of that time I refused her offer to treat e to luh. I ish I’e said
yes to her the other day or have thoroughly explained why it was okay for me to refuse.
The issue lied in the fact that it is the norm to spend money on other people for little
things in China. It is also the norm to accept the offer from other people when they want to
spend money on you. The reason for it is because, in China, money builds relationships. For
example, there are a lot of under the table transactions or sending gift behind the scenes to
pleasure your co-workers or higher-ups. For e to refuse her offer, ade it see like I did’t
accept her apology and treated her as someone distant which was how I felt she was treating
me. Talk about irony. I wish I had this knowledge to help me better understand the situation
istead of guessig aout hat et rog i our friedship. I ould’e hadled the situatio
a etter. For her side, I ish she ke that i North Aeria, e do’t alas hae to
spend money to show our appreciation of others or build our relationships through it. Although
giftig oasioall shos a perso’s thoughtfuless, it does’t hae to e a eerda
ourree. Although she should’e adapted to our ultures here i North Aeria, I should’e
done a better job of anticipating these kinds of problems with her. After my refusal of her offer,
I should’e thoroughl eplaied the reaso h I’ refusig it. Lettig her ko that I
appreiate her thoughts ad although I’ refusig her offer, it does’t ea I’ ot forgiig
her and keeping a grudge against her. Like Chester said, I must learn to be receptive of how I
am being received so I can adapt or at least understand the potential issues. In my case, I was
viewed as a cold person when I was being nice by not wanting to spend her money. The bottom
line is, always reflect who my audience is and how to approach them.
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Reflection 1- how culture differs between different workplaces. In the video one of the alumnus, chester dawes who currently works at manulife asset. Management mentioned how he has been to a various of workplaces across the world and has experienced many different workplace cultures. Within each culture, there are unique ways to approach the people and utilize people skills to get into a favorable position with the company a(cid:374)d its (cid:449)orkers. He has lear(cid:374)ed that (cid:449)hat (cid:449)orked for hi(cid:373) i(cid:374) north a(cid:373)eri(cid:272)a(cid:374) did(cid:374)"t (cid:374)e(cid:272)essaril(cid:455) work in europe or asia. For example, the culture in singapore is that one can leave a job and find another one by lunch. The differences in workplace culture made me relate to an issue that. I"(cid:448)e perso(cid:374)all(cid:455) e(cid:374)(cid:272)ou(cid:374)tered duri(cid:374)g (cid:373)(cid:455) (cid:449)ork ter(cid:373), a(cid:374)d i"d (cid:449)ish i ha(cid:448)e ha(cid:374)dled it (cid:271)etter. O(cid:374)e of my co-workers in my workplace previously worked in china and thus has brought some of that.
