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Understanding Thai Communication
Confrontation can be unpleasant anywhere in the world but, in Thailand, it can be lethal to your success.
Photo: http://www.mongkol-luck.com
Understanding Thai communication style is critical. A key Thai value is the avoidance of confrontation. Thai’s consider self-control a virtue. Therefore they will be very indirect in their expression of feelings and in their behaviour. Pleasing or avoiding conflict has greater importance than clarity of meaning. Westerners, who are usually very direct in their communication style, can be frustrated or impatient in communicating with the Thais. ‘They won’t tell me what they think!’ is a common refrain. They will tell you what they think, just not when it is something that is negative, or may make you, or them, ‘lose face.’
01/09/2010 - 15:31
