Workplace

Relations
Tokyo Recontracting Seminar
2006
Today’s Outline

„ Sharing loves & hates.

„ Cultural Differences, different perspectives,
communication.
„ Discussion
„ Avenues of support.
„ Tips/ Goal-setting.
Session Rules

„ Respectful
„ Constructive
„ Positive
Expectations
vs.
Reality!
Love & Hate

„ Something you love about your workplace

environment/ person/ something nice someone did.
„ A workplace issue.
The Problem Is…
„ In the Workplace.
„ “The school itself sees me as a nuisance due to my ‘foreign
ways’
„ Feel pressure to conform to “stupid rules”.
„ Feel pressure to be fun, genki, crazy, gaijin.
„ Isolation, loneliness.
„ ALTs under informed about workplace events & gossip.
„ Teaching-Related.
„ “Each week she makes it clear that her life would be a lot easier
without me.”
„ Expectations differ about who should be responsible for what.
„ Beliefs about best-practice differ. JTEs-translators, non-
participators, tape-recorder reducers, textbook Nazis, exam
obsessives, workaholics
www.bigdaikon.com
Behavior in Context
GLOBAL/ INTERNATIONAL

FRIENDS

SCHOOL
FAMILY

IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT

SOCIETY

CULTURE
 Culture

Culture-at-work© 1997-2002 Jennifer E. Beer http://www.culture-at-work.com/index.html

Geert-Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions
•Power Distance Index (PDI) focuses on the degree of equality, or
inequality, between people in the country's society.
•Individualism (IDV) focuses on the degree the society reinforces
individual or collective achievement and interpersonal relationships.
•Masculinity (MAS) focuses on the degree the society reinforces, or
does not reinforce, the traditional masculine work role model of male
achievement, control, and power.
•Uncertainty Avoidance Index (UAI) focuses on the level of tolerance
for uncertainty and ambiguity within the society - i.e. unstructured
situations.
•Long-Term Orientation (LTO) focuses on the degree the society
embraces, or does not embrace, long-term devotion to traditional,
forward thinking values.
ITIM international (Geert Hofstede) http://www.geert-hofstede.com
Culture-at-work© 1997-2002 Jennifer E. Beer http://www.culture-at-work.com/index.html
Understanding Japanese Office Culture / Understanding JET Dr. Tsuyoshi Akiyama
http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kokusai/e/jet/akiyamasensei.html
Power-Distance
60 54 „ Authority/ Hierarchy
50 „ Polite fiction
40 39
40 35 36 “I am humble, you are
30
honored”
22 (vs. “we are all equals and friends”)
20
„ Language
10
„ Action
0
US

UK

NZ

n
da

a lia

pa
na

Ja
st r
Ca

Au
Individualism (Collectivism)

100 91 89 90 „ Interdependence
90 80 79 „ Grading of Intimacy”
80
70 Uchi/ Soto
60
50
46 „ Maintaining harmony is
40 more important than
30 being innovative (?).
20
10 „ Honne/ Tatemae
0
US

UK

NZ

n
da

a
pa
a li
na

Ja
st r
Ca

Au
Masculinity

100 95 „ Men’s roles

90 „ Women’s roles-tea lady,
80
62 66 stopping work when get
70 58 61
60 52 married.
50
40 „ Appropriate language,
30 behavior & dress
20
10
0
US

UK

NZ

n
da

a lia

pa
na

Ja
st r
Ca

Au
Uncertainty Avoidance

100 92 „ Rules for everything.

90 „ Ambiguity
80
„ Breaking rules quietly
70
60 49 51 „ Time-punctuality
46 48
50
40 35
30
20
10
0
US

UK

NZ

n
da

a
pa
a li
na

Ja
st r
Ca

Au
Long-Term Orientation

90 80
80 „ Ethnocentrism
70
„ Following form
60
50
40 29 30 31
30 23 25
20
10
0
US

UK

NZ

n
da

a lia

pa
na

Ja
st r
Ca

Au
 Not all Jelly Beans are the Same

Culture-at-work© 1997-2002 Jennifer E. Beer http://www.culture-at-work.com/index.html

Different Perspectives
JTEs Perspective
“How positive and effective is your relationship with your ALT?”

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
kn 0
n
un 1
ow
Shizuoka EFL Pre-meeting, 15 May 2006, N= 144 valid (from 162)
 Likes
„ Hardworking, Honest, Sincere, Friendly & Patient, Cheerful.
Reliable. Kind & help me out a lot. Seems nice & energetic.
Clever. Honest. Motivated. Attractive. Cooperative.
Responsible. Polite, Humility. Enthusiastic. Diplomatic.
Energetic, Always happy. Positive. Supportive.
Communicative. Serious. Smiley.
„ TEACHING-RELATED
„ POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS
„ JAPAN-CULTURAL & LINGUISTIC KNOWLEDGE
„ CULTURAL EXCHANGE
„ ENGLISH HELP
„ SPEECH PATTERNS
„ COMMUNICATIVE
Dislikes
„ TEACHING-RELATED
„ ATTITUDE TOWARDS STUDENTS

„ PERSONALITY-”TOO CALM”
„ LACK OF PUNCTUALITY
„ HOLIDAYS
„ COMPUTER USAGE

„ NO EFFORT TO UNDERSTAND JAPAN/ JAPANESE CULTURE.

„ INAPPROPRIATE JAPANESE
„ SPEECH PATTERNS-TOO FAST
„ LACK OF COMMUNICATION
Advice
„ TEACHING
„ RELATIONSHIP WITH STUDENTS
„ UNDERSTANDING THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT/ JTEs/
STUDENTS
„ SCHOOL INVOLVEMENT (parties, cleaning..)
„ PROFESSIONALISM (dress, work ethic)
„ TIME, PUNCTUALITY
„ JAPANESE CULTURE & LANGUAGE
„ COMMUNICATION-initiate conversation with all staff
 Communication
Communication
Communication skills
skills Culture
Knowledge
Culture Social System
Knowledge
Attitude
Social System
Attitude

Perception

MESSAGE
(PURPOSE, CONTENT, FORM,)

SOURCE
RECIEVER
CONTEXT

(Based on Shannon-Weaver, Gerbner and Berlo’s Models of Communication)

Cultural Barriers to Communication

„ Misinterpretation of meaning.
„ "cognitive constraints."
„ "behavior constraints."
„ "emotional constraints."

Conflict Research Consortium University of Colorado USA

http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/index.html
Communication Strategies
„ Gain knowledge-learn from generalizations but avoid stereotyping.
„ Practice
„ Don’t assume there is only one way to communicate (yours)
(direct/ indirect, body language, written/ verbal)
„ When voicing opinions, be constructive & non-confrontational rather
than blaming.
„ Active listening-put yourself in other persons shoes, clarify meaning.
(open-ended questions)
„ Respect others choices about whether to engage with you/ not.
„ Stop & think before you react-reserve judgment.
„ Be aware of possible power imbalances/ group dynamics.
„ Remember cultural norms may not apply to particular individuals.
„ Regular meetings
„ Nomunication
„ Patience
Conflict Research Consortium University of Colorado USA
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/index.html
Approaches To Conflict
Others
Needs PROBLEM SOLVE // SERVE //
COLLABORATE ACCOMMODATE

FAIRNESS,
RULES,
BE DONE
WITH IT //
COMPROMI
SE
CHOOSE NOT TO
Own ENGAGE //
Needs FORCE // COMPETE AVOID

Change Make do

Culture-at-work© 1997-2002 Jennifer E. Beer http://www.culture-at-work.com

Grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change…
courage to change the things I
can, and wisdom to know the
difference.
Group Discussion

„ Sharing your situation.

„ Offering different perspectives.
„ Group feedback/ Q & A.
 Japan: a Country On Planet Earth
by Paul Abramson

„ “To some degree the Japanese staff isn't sure what to do with
someone who's different from everyone else, and who probably
doesn't plan to become like everyone else, the same and a
permanent employee. At first you'll be treated as an honored
guest, later you'll be expected to become part of the group. Act
busy even when you're not and be interested in meetings even
when you're not, be flexible and read between the lines when
receiving a hint. You've been accepted into a group, recognize
that this privilege brings with it unspoken obligations and
responsibilities. Try to cultivate one or two peers as "go
betweens" for (not if, but) when petty office politics flare up
around you. Appeal indirectly and ask for advice, never confront
directly if your co-workers won't be able to understand and
correctly interpret such mature behavior. Go out drinking with
them and become part of the group, act trusting and loyal to the
best of your abilities.”
http://www.paulzilla.org/japanese/j_cope3.htm
Support Options
„ Friends/ family.

„ Your P.A

„ Peer Support Group (8pm-7am)

0120-437-725

„ Tokyo Lifeline (9am-11pm)

03-5774-0992

„ CLAIR JET Line (M-F, 9am-5.45pm)

03-3591-5489

„ AMDA (M-F, 0900-1700hrs)

03-5285-8088
 Be the change
you want to see in the world.
How can you improve your workplace
relationships?
„ Tips!
„ Choose one & do it.
„ Be specific-who, what, when, where.
Some Ideas…
„ Greetings (ohayo gozaimasu, osaki ni shitsurei shimasu)
„ Be on time
„ Dress professionally.
„ Look like you’re working hard.
„ Celebrate birthdays
„ Bring omiyage back from holiday
„ Ask questions about life outside work.
„ Listen
„ Ask questions about Japanese culture/ language-get someone to
teach you something.
„ Give compliments.
„ Develop good relationships with students.
„ Join a club.
„ Go to enkais.
„ Work out the power-players & get them on side.
„ Start an English Conversation club.
„ Bring interesting objects/ photos & put them on your desk to act as
conversation catalysts.
Internet Resources
„ ITIM international (Geert Hofstede)
http://www.geert-hofstede.com
„ Culture-at-work© 1997-2002 Jennifer E. Beer
http://www.culture-at-work.com/index.html
„ Understanding Japanese Office Culture / Understanding JET
Dr. Tsuyoshi Akiyama
http://www.pref.miyagi.jp/kokusai/e/jet/akiyamasensei.html
„ Conflict Research Consortium University of Colorado USA
http://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/index.html
„ JET trouble-shooter. Problem Resolution Tool
http://www.okinawajet.com/resources/downloads/
ALL THE BEST FOR YOUR 2nd YEAR!