working with australians

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WORKING WITH WORKING WITH AUSTRALIANS AUSTRALIANS

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What makes the Australians "tick?" - Guidelines for working and doing business with Australians

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Page 1: Working with Australians

WORKING WITH WORKING WITH AUSTRALIANSAUSTRALIANS

Page 2: Working with Australians

QUOTE

• “Australia rode to prosperity on the sheep’s back. Wool and other farm exports paved the way for it to become the Asia Pacific’s no 5 economy. But these days, it’s not sheep on which Australia is riding, but a Chinese dragon because the real boon for Australia is in its abundance of raw materials which China – and increasingly India, needs to thrive” –Bloomberg news journalist

Page 3: Working with Australians

QUOTES ABOUTQUOTES ABOUT AUSTRALIANSAUSTRALIANS

• “Australians are, I have found, ready to laugh at themselves if they think that the joke is funny and the humour not ill-directed. And the ability to be self-deprecating is the mark of confidence “ Soumya Bhattacharya

• “The idea that Englishmen are made of paste and the Australian is steel all through, I have found to be universal” A Trollope

• “Australia is a huge rest home, where no unwelcome news is ever put on to the pages of the worst newspapers in the world. “ Germaine Greer

• “Australia is about as far away as you can get. I like that.” Andre Benjamin

• “There is something of the cowboy in every American, but a little bit of the sheep station in most Australians “ Matthew Parris

• “You have no need to feel iffy about a country where "relaxation is the aim". There's nothing to be worried about if "no worries" is your mantra” Soumya Bhattacharya

Page 4: Working with Australians

AUSTRALIAN EXPRESSIONS WHICH AUSTRALIAN EXPRESSIONS WHICH REFLECT THEIR CULTUREREFLECT THEIR CULTURE

• "A fair go" (equality)

• “The tall poppy syndrome” (dislike of arrogance)

• "Live and let live" (independence)

• "Give it a go" (practicality)•

"Call a spade a bloody shovel" (directness)

• "Laid back" (informality)

• “My mate …(group identity)

• “No worries” ( suffering in silence)

Page 5: Working with Australians

““NO WORRIES”NO WORRIES”

• Irrespective of whether they have just lost two legs in a car accident or their business has just collapsed, Australians try to maintain a facade of cheerfulness.

• If you feel the need to talk about your problems, it is more polite to try to turn the problem into a funny story.

• The reasons for no worries mantra is best understood by appreciating that Australia was built by victims – prisoners and refugees.

• " In Australia, silent composure under suffering is strictly prescribed by convict etiquette."

• If you consider yourself to be a victim, bear in mind that Australia is a country where

respect is given to underdogs who stand up for themselves. The victim that doesn't stand up for themselves, or needs someone else to fight for their cause, will gain no respect

Page 6: Working with Australians

DIRECTNESSDIRECTNESS

• Although extremely direct, this does not mean that their English is always understood

• Slang plays a big part in their communication style and its not always direct

• Failure to say what you mean and mean what you say can be mistaken for hypocrisy

• Keep away from hard sell and too much self promotion – keep to factual descriptions

Page 7: Working with Australians

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMOURHUMOUR

• Humour is an essential part of the Australian personality. Their humour is often aimed at themselves or their country, and is often self-deprecating

• If you are teased, you are expected to reply in kind, with good humor. Such self-confidence will increase an Australian's respect for you

• Australians like to joke about tragedies as a way of coping with them in a way that, for instance, the more sentimental Americans would find rather inappropriate

• More than anything Australians enjoy baiting foreigners. It is their way of making you feel at home

Page 8: Working with Australians

INFORMALITYINFORMALITY

• Where else in the world would you read this notice in the company lobby: You may notice that the person you have come to see is dressed casually. We like to respect the way our employees prefer to dress. But be assured, although they may look casual, they mean business..

• It would be easy to see and treat Australian culture as lax But assuming that informality is the same as laxity could bring big trouble. Informality is NOT laxity

• Martin Sims, a Sydney-based intercultural consultant, puts it: .I read laxity as laziness. Informality is different in the Aussie context. Informality means using first names, sometimes calling people ..Mate., feet on chair, not sitting up straight

Page 9: Working with Australians

AUSTRALIAN HUMORAUSTRALIAN HUMOR

• Honest , cynical, black

• Aimed at friends and at themselves

• Breaking the rules

• The fool

• Inaccurate stereotypes

• Australian machos

• Drinking

• The outbacks

• Mates

Page 10: Working with Australians

MATESMATES

Australians place a high value on relationships.

With a relatively small population, it is important to get along with everyone, since you never know when your paths may cross again.

This leads to a win-win negotiating style, since having everyone come away with positive feelings helps facilitate future business dealings.

Page 11: Working with Australians

EGALITARIANISM AND EGALITARIANISM AND MANAGEMENT STYLEMANAGEMENT STYLE

• Coming from a convict heritage, they have a healthy disrespect for authority

• They respect the boss who is willing to get his hands dirty – but in reality they don't expect him to do it too often

• Very important not to be arrogant and think you are “something special”

• Organizations are fairly non-hierarchical

• Status ascribed through achievements – you are only as good as your last decision or action

• We want to be left to get on with the job, and to have the confidence of the boss that we CAN do it

• Management style is very inclusive and encourages open debate

• Challenging the ideas of the boss is a sign of a fully committed professional approach

Page 12: Working with Australians

EGALITARIANISM AND ‘TEAM EGALITARIANISM AND ‘TEAM PLAYER’PLAYER’

• Being seen as a good team player is extremely important

• Creating a positive feel is seen as a key management function and “bonding” sessions are common – eating and drinking together are actively encouraged

• Anyone who tries to make themselves better or wishes to be successful at the expense of someone else is rejected

• Competition should be externally focused

Page 13: Working with Australians

MEETINGSMEETINGS

• Punctuality is very important – but meetings can start up to 10 mins late

• Few minutes small talk before business

• Post-planning culture –little preparation for the meeting

• First debate and discuss and then find the way forward

• When things are agreed upon, detailed schedule will be implemented

• Too much preparation in advance can mean people are trying to force their ideas on others

• Agendas are loosely followed – important issues will be handled as they come up

• Decision-making meetings can be quite animated and it is expected that people will say exactly what they feel

Page 14: Working with Australians

THE DRINKING TRADITIONTHE DRINKING TRADITION

• All through Australia, in every class, it is not considered good form for a man to drink by himself

• The consequence is, that when a man feels inclined to drink, he immediately looks out for someone to drink with

• "Shouting", or rather its meaning, is peculiarly Australian. The shortest and most comprehensive definition of "shouting" is to pay for the drink drunk by others

• Furthermore, alcohol still plays a very important role in the social fabric of Australian society. University students often discuss their ideas at the pub after lectures

• Most importantly, the shout is still the mainstay of the Australian pub. It is a custom that allows an outsider to be inducted into the social group and treated as if they are of equal status - irrespective of their socio-economic, political or national background

Page 15: Working with Australians

LEISURE AND SPORTLEISURE AND SPORT

• You should try not to get between an Australian and his leisure time

• For example, they get a minimum of four weeks annual leave each year (increasing with service in some cases) and a minimum of three

months additional leave

• After 15 years. service , or after 10 years service if you work for the Government

Page 16: Working with Australians

THANK YOU

www.uglobaleyes.comwww.uglobaleyes.co.il

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