Smart and Lazy
I have been giving some thought as to what sort of personal qualities are necessary to make a successful adjustment to the culture here. I haven’t been here all that long yet, but already I have seen several people come and go. Some in fact run away screaming in short order!
Adjusting to life in the Gulf is a big step for western ex-pats. In some ways it could be said that there is no culture on earth as foreign to a westerner as what we find here in the Gulf. Before I proceed any further, I want you to check out this --> article <-- by Bob Wallace. The article is talking about military officers and politicians, but I think the concept extends to most jobs here as well.
I won’t address the stupid/smart dichotomy, I’m not sure that it makes that much difference anyway. Smart is generally good I suppose, ...I wouldn’t know. The active/lazy dichotomy is very telling though. “Actives” will likely get chewed up and spit out quickly here in the Gulf.
The analogy is kind of strained, it’s not that being “lazy” is a virtue here per se… an aversion to work is not an advantage here by any means. I think the analogy applies if we consider “lazy” as meaning not attached to certain outcomes, flexible, and not particularly caring if things don’t work the way that we would prefer.
“Active” we could interpret as people who have a specific agenda, with certain goals and timetables that are fixed. People fitting that description should not even give the Gulf a second glance. Nothing here goes according to plan, the rules change, the priorities are often unknown, and it may well be that the plan itself is scrapped or profoundly altered at any given time …usually at the last minute.
On the other hand, huge skyscrapers are being built, the oil and gas continues to flow, the projects get financed, etc. In short, everything does get accomplished here sooner or later, just not necessarily in the way that you may have thought or preferred. The culture here is vastly different from the west, especially the corporate culture. Those flexible and patient enough to watch it and learn from it will likely do well. Those who try to re-create the western model here will probably spend many hours banging their heads against walls.
The people I have witnessed who have not adapted well usually had pre-conceived ideas of just what they were going to accomplish here. When the realities of Qatar (invariably) alter or demolish those plans, frustration sets in. A better approach for a new ex-pat here is to have no agenda at all. Just come on over, get settled in, and sit back and watch for a while. After some time passes it will become much clearer what sorts of things might work in the Gulf, and what sort won’t.
Western ex-pats get paid a lot of money here. We are paid well because Qatari industries want to know how western companies accomplish certain things… in a sense they are buying our knowledge. Whether or not they will use that knowledge is another story entirely. In fact, they may choose an approach to a problem that strikes you as not only bizarre, but actually counter-productive, then later you may come to find out that their way actually works (here) pretty well. The trick is to be available to help, and offer your expertise freely, but not be concerned if they don’t implement your solutions.
In short, if you’re coming here to change things… don’t bother, but if you’re coming here for a relaxed lifestyle and an unusual adventure …come on over!
Adjusting to life in the Gulf is a big step for western ex-pats. In some ways it could be said that there is no culture on earth as foreign to a westerner as what we find here in the Gulf. Before I proceed any further, I want you to check out this --> article <-- by Bob Wallace. The article is talking about military officers and politicians, but I think the concept extends to most jobs here as well.
I won’t address the stupid/smart dichotomy, I’m not sure that it makes that much difference anyway. Smart is generally good I suppose, ...I wouldn’t know. The active/lazy dichotomy is very telling though. “Actives” will likely get chewed up and spit out quickly here in the Gulf.
The analogy is kind of strained, it’s not that being “lazy” is a virtue here per se… an aversion to work is not an advantage here by any means. I think the analogy applies if we consider “lazy” as meaning not attached to certain outcomes, flexible, and not particularly caring if things don’t work the way that we would prefer.
“Active” we could interpret as people who have a specific agenda, with certain goals and timetables that are fixed. People fitting that description should not even give the Gulf a second glance. Nothing here goes according to plan, the rules change, the priorities are often unknown, and it may well be that the plan itself is scrapped or profoundly altered at any given time …usually at the last minute.
On the other hand, huge skyscrapers are being built, the oil and gas continues to flow, the projects get financed, etc. In short, everything does get accomplished here sooner or later, just not necessarily in the way that you may have thought or preferred. The culture here is vastly different from the west, especially the corporate culture. Those flexible and patient enough to watch it and learn from it will likely do well. Those who try to re-create the western model here will probably spend many hours banging their heads against walls.
The people I have witnessed who have not adapted well usually had pre-conceived ideas of just what they were going to accomplish here. When the realities of Qatar (invariably) alter or demolish those plans, frustration sets in. A better approach for a new ex-pat here is to have no agenda at all. Just come on over, get settled in, and sit back and watch for a while. After some time passes it will become much clearer what sorts of things might work in the Gulf, and what sort won’t.
Western ex-pats get paid a lot of money here. We are paid well because Qatari industries want to know how western companies accomplish certain things… in a sense they are buying our knowledge. Whether or not they will use that knowledge is another story entirely. In fact, they may choose an approach to a problem that strikes you as not only bizarre, but actually counter-productive, then later you may come to find out that their way actually works (here) pretty well. The trick is to be available to help, and offer your expertise freely, but not be concerned if they don’t implement your solutions.
In short, if you’re coming here to change things… don’t bother, but if you’re coming here for a relaxed lifestyle and an unusual adventure …come on over!
posted by dervish at Tuesday, May 31, 2005
2 Comments:
Yup! But what you are describing applies to anyone in a country other than their own, including where people speak the same language e.g. Americans in Britain and vice versa. You must either be prepared to adapt to local conditions, or you will have such a miserable time you will end up going home.
Seeing how things are done differently is a big part of the fun of living and working in a foreign country. You learn something new every day.
It's funny, on the opposite end, something similar happens to people who visit the U.S. from other countries. I use to get so irritated with my husband when he seemed to do things "on the fly". He'd laugh at me because I seemed so uptight when things didn't go according to schedule. His often-used phrase was "It'll happen." :S
Perhaps we've grown a bit too uptight here in the west.
Post a Comment
<< Home