ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2006 > December > 12 > Entry
Saving Face, a lesson to learn
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
One of the many lessons I learned from my recent trip to China was the concept of “respect and saving face” that is still practiced among the Chinese culture, a lesson that we all can learn from.
Your level within a company, education and age factor in the level of respect an individual must be shown. Interrupting a conversation or directly telling someone they are wrong publicly is taboo in China.
A public challenge, refusing to shake someone’s hands, not greeting him or her properly, and interrupting someone in the middle of a sentence is a lack of respect and is perceived as loosing face.
The highest respect is shown to the individual who holds the highest position in a company or a government post, which is often the one in the same. The person with the highest position controls the conversation and speaks their thoughts first.
The individual with the highest level of education is the center of the conversation when company position is not a factor. A person with a Ph.D. is the center of conversation, when speaking to a person with less education, such as a Master’s degree.
Likewise, an individual with a Master’s degree would hold court over a person with a bachelor’s degree or high school diploma.
Last but not least, age is the next major factor. It would be inappropriate to show disrespect to someone who is older than you.
Do you agree with these practices? Should we adopt them here in the workplace?
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