Pragmatic Psychology Explained!

Which factors are most important for navigating China business today?

I believe two ideas capture the essence of piloting your Guanxi engine toward the best possible outcomes in the Chinese business arena...

Pragmatism and Psychology.

#chinabusiness #chineseculture #artofwar #guanxi #communications #negotiations #psychology

https://www.provocativechina.com/blog/sp6

This is “The Chinese Business Arena” .. And today we’re going to discuss the fallacy of our collective myopia in the post-Covid-19 era for doing business in China.

We’re going to review the REAL CULPRITS that cause communications breaking down with our Chinese counterparts, and I’m going to show you how to operate this...

THE GUANXI ENGINE

#chinabusiness #Guanxi #chineseculture #Face #Communications #China #Mandarin #learnChinese

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

History is woven from different narratives, perspectives, and interpretations, and there is a saying that "History is written by victors."

Perhaps more poignantly, Hermann Göring, Churchill's enemy in World War II, is recorded as saying, "The victor will always be the judge, and the vanquished the accused" at the Nuremberg trials.

From the Western perspective, China has never been the victor, so our history is the only one we prescribe.

Today, as the historically defeated, colonized, and once unequally divided China rises in power and influence, most Westerners fail to contextualize their perspective of history and its collective psychological effect.

UPCOMING BOOK

Strategic Pragmatism for De-Risking Post-COVID China: Circumnavigating Cultural and Psychological Landmines Inside the Chinese Arena is a timely and indispensable guide for Westerners seeking to understand how to collaborate with Chinese stakeholders in the post-pandemic era. Drawing upon an overview of China's historical relationship with the West and how perceptions and misperceptions evolve, this book helps readers develop a winning approach to managing the interpersonal relationships they will need to succeed—Guanxi. This book serves students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders curious about assembling a repertoire of tactics and strategies that better align with the emotional psychologies of Chinese players and the rigid national sentiments they exhibit inside the Chinese arena.

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

As a Western leader in China, should you be concerned that promoting someone invariably leads to others feeling apprehensive (焦虑 Jiāolǜ)?

Managing Chinese employees is simple: tell them what to do.

Leading Chinese employees is complicated for Western leaders, requiring a deep understanding of their cultural and emotional psychologies. Their responses, usually in the form of 'lip service,' are cultural displays of respect and a pragmatic way of deepening Guanxi by giving Face. Rarely do Chinese people reveal their true feelings or intentions, as their reasoning is circular and their perspective of 'Truth' is relative.

UPCOMING BOOK

Strategic Pragmatism for De-Risking Post-COVID China: Circumnavigating Cultural and Psychological Landmines Inside the Chinese Arena is a timely and indispensable guide for Westerners seeking to understand how to collaborate with Chinese stakeholders in the post-pandemic era. Drawing upon an overview of China's historical relationship with the West and how perceptions and misperceptions evolve, this book helps readers develop a winning approach to managing the interpersonal relationships they will need to succeed—Guanxi. This book serves students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders curious about assembling a repertoire of tactics and strategies that better align with the emotional psychologies of Chinese players and the rigid national sentiments they exhibit inside the Chinese arena.

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

The term 'Chinese arena' describes any business scenario with participants from mainland China. This term is apt because it encapsulates the emotional and psychological stresses that dominate when values and ideologies clash.

Accepting alternative paradigms is possible when we imagine learning tactics for a new 'game' in a new field of play.

Tradeoffs feel less personal, and withdrawing ethical and moral considerations become more acceptable.

Furthermore, when we reimagine our experiences in China as a game dominated by psychological warfare, like poker, we replace judgment with curiosity and craft a new persona conditioned to win the China game inside the Chinese arena.

Instead of studying ancient strategies written over two thousand years ago, we will extrapolate Art of War tactics that Chinese people utilize subconsciously based on common behavior patterns, and we will develop winning tactics that work in the new normal of post-COVID China.

UPCOMING BOOK

Strategic Pragmatism for De-Risking Post-COVID China: Circumnavigating Cultural and Psychological Landmines Inside the Chinese Arena is a timely and indispensable guide for Westerners seeking to understand how to collaborate with Chinese stakeholders in the post-pandemic era. Drawing upon an overview of China's historical relationship with the West and how perceptions and misperceptions evolve, this book helps readers develop a winning approach to managing the interpersonal relationships they will need to succeed—Guanxi. This book serves students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders curious about assembling a repertoire of tactics and strategies that better align with the emotional psychologies of Chinese players and the rigid national sentiments they exhibit inside the Chinese arena.

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

Every interaction in China can either improve a relationship or trigger a cloak of deception called goodwill extraction. While this might sound dramatic, it simply contrasts the possible outcomes of every engagement you'll encounter doing business in China.

Once you understand your interactions in the proper cultural context, you will no longer be surprised by any response or development. In hindsight, it was entirely predictable when a trusted local partner in Nanjing began lying, cheating, and stealing from our company.

When a deficit of goodwill reaches a tipping point, it is natural in Chinese psychology to seek substitutes in other parts of the local value chain. Westerners call it corruption, but in Chinese culture, this behavior is justified and socially acceptable.

In my upcoming book, we will refer to any "bad" behavior as GOODWILL EXTRACTION because when your Guanxi engine isn't properly maintained and running smoothly, even good relationships will veer off course, and avoiding a fatal crash should be the priority of anyone competing inside the Chinese arena.

UPCOMING BOOK

Strategic Pragmatism for De-Risking Post-COVID China: Circumnavigating Cultural and Psychological Landmines Inside the Chinese Arena is a timely and indispensable guide for Westerners seeking to understand how to collaborate with Chinese stakeholders in the post-pandemic era. Drawing upon an overview of China's historical relationship with the West and how perceptions and misperceptions evolve, this book helps readers develop a winning approach to managing the interpersonal relationships they will need to succeed—Guanxi. This book serves students, entrepreneurs, and business leaders curious about assembling a repertoire of tactics and strategies that better align with the emotional psychologies of Chinese players and the rigid national sentiments they exhibit inside the Chinese arena.

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

#chinabusiness #chineseculture #uschina #communications #covid19

New Author Page: https://www.provocativechina.com/

#chinabusiness #chineseculture #uschina #communications #covid19