Managing Management (With Chinese Characteristics)

We all have disagreements or don't see eye to eye with our managers all the time. If this is happening to you, take a deep breath and settle in. This piece hopes to help you navigate these potentially treacherous waters a little more safely.

First, it's usually a good idea to get a second set of eyes on the situation. If you have a amentor or another person you trust within the firm or industry, present them with the situation, but perhaps without all the details. They might have valuable insights to share.

But if you're in need of further ideas, take a look here for the Top 5 things NOT TO DO, Top 5 things TO DO, and 5 key takeaways in regards to disagreeing with your boss on a business decision.

Top 5 things NOT TO DO when disagreeing with your boss:

1. Do not do it in public – this is the fastest way to lose your boss’s respect. In Chinese culture especially, confronting your boss in front of other colleagues would result in a ‘loss of face.’ This notion here is that it is personally and politically embarrassing to have a subordinate disagree with him. ‘Face’ is of vital importance to understanding Chinese business practices – however sensitive you need to be about the how outsiders perceive your relationship with your boss in the U.S. or elsewhere, in China it is even more important to tread lightly.

2. Do not do it behind his back – this will trigger a gut instinct in your other colleagues to ask themselves, “would he do this to me?” If that question is being asked, it’s already too late. While complaining about your boss or other co-workers over a beer or a weekend dinner seems harmless enough, keep it to those outside of your professional circles. No one likes a whiner, and especially in the finance industry, all of us will encounter our fair share of ‘memorable’ superiors. The guy sitting across the table from you probably had it worse when he was an analyst and is thinking to himself, “This guy’s a total softy.”

In China especially, the concept of a business is less of an organization or ‘well-oiled machine’ and more of a family. To complain in the open isn’t so cool. I have seen creative solutions though – a previous colleague, whenever frustrated with a superior, would simply say, smiling, “He’s so funny. Such a good sense of humor.” For her, it was a way of coping with an otherwise over-demanding boss. And it worked. She was one of our most pleasant co-workers and ended up getting a promotion (though she had to spend more time with the boss).

3. Do not wait for a long time to deal with the situation – if there is something you feel pressing enough to discuss with your boss, do it in a timely manner. Perhaps not 5 minutes after he calls you a ‘blabbering worthless nincompoop,’ but don’t wait a week to bring it up. Not only will the details of what actually transpired become unclear by then, but it shows your boss that you have the confidence to bring up a disagreement, in a respectful fashion, of course (more on this later).

This is a tricky one in China, as business dealing are frequently put off to a later date because of X,Y,Z reason that is never quite fully explained. Negotiations often happen like this, where one party will continually reschedule the meeting, both to keep the other party on uneven footing and also to prolong the engagement in hopes the other party will begin to grow impatient and concede negotiation points. In my experience, with a one-on-one conversation with superiors, it’s still better to address it in a timely fashion.

4. Do not speak in ambiguous comments – to say “you know what you did wrong,” or something of the equivalent is a total non-starter. Be specific about the situation and do not dance around the issue.

5. Do not say that the boss is wrong/incorrect/mistaken. Corollary: do not say that you are right/correct. There are far more artful word choices to use for situations like this one, and to tell your boss that he’s wrong gets you precisely zero brownie points (and probably lots of monkey shit).

Top 5 things TO DO when disagreeing with your boss:
1. Do ask permission to give your idea – allow your boss to invite feedback or comments. If he/she doesn’t, then perhaps this is simply not the right time to air your idea. But a simple, “Are you willing to hear my perspective on this?” goes a long way to maintaining a strong relationship with a boss. Even if you follow up that question by pointing out an error that they’ve made.

2. Do be direct and succinct, but have data or a further explanation to back up your case. In the end, bosses (although it might not always seem this way) want what is best for the company because it makes them look good. As long as you have supporting documentation to prove your point and can point it out in a non-threatening way, you’re fine.

3. Do allow your boss to communicate his/her side uninterrupted – when you give feedback to your boss that they might not be correct on a decision, they will naturally become defensive. Nearly all of us are like that. So make sure that when they do begin speaking, you sit back and open your ears wide, nodding and focusing on showing them you’re soaking up everything they’re saying. To critique someone and then – as they try to defend themselves – continue speaking over them or further reinforce your point, is disrespectful.

In China, you do not want to ever try to speak when your boss is talking, as again, this is a loss of face. The boss is the patriarch (or dictator, however you want to cut it) and he likely thinks of himself as such. You don’t need to necessarily pile on fresh tinder to the inferno that is his ego, but try not to put it out.

4. Do come up with an actionable solution – there needs to be a resolution to the conversation, otherwise it will come across as just a complaint. If it is an issue directly related to workflow, have action items prepared ahead of the conversation with steps you might take to resolve any unfinished business and tie up loose threads.
5. Do ask open-ended questions – even if it’s a pain to hear your boss speak more and more, this is the way conflicts will be resolved. Asking questions such as “What would you like to see happen?” or “What would it take for us to move forward from this point?” puts the ball (and power) back in his/her court and allows them to feel like the all-powerful boss again. Hopefully though, if you’ve explained your case well enough, the boss agree with your suggestions once they realize that it’s his/her idea…

Key takeaways:
1. Approach your boss in private and in a timely fashion, having already prepared for the conversation ahead of time.
2. Do not bitch and moan behind his back – it’s unbecoming. On everyone. If you really have to let out some steam, hit the gym or complain to your college buddies, but never to colleagues or others in the industry. If other folks are shooting the breeze and the topic comes up, just smile and listen to everyone else’s stories.
3. Speak directly and specifically but with respect – do not dance around the issue as it’s a waste of time but be conscious of word choice.
4. Arrive at an actionable solution – if you don’t then you’re just complaining.
5. Do not say that your boss is wrong. If you firmly believe that you are correct, choose your words carefully but allow your boss to arrive at a new and improved solution himself. Use open-ended questions to lead him to what you believe is the proper course of action. The solution must always appear to be your boss’s idea.

As many a wise man have said, it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and a second to lose one. Act accordingly, monkeys.

When in the past have you had a situation in which you felt compelled to bring something up to a manger? How did you deal with it? What steps did you take? Share and sound off below!

[and for you future monkeys, a permutation of the above is often an interview question...so take notes from some of these seasoned vets!]

 

Thanks for writing up on this topic.

"business dealing are frequently put off to a later date because of X,Y,Z reason that is never quite fully explained. Negotiations often happen like this, where one party will continually reschedule the meeting, both to keep the other party on uneven footing and also to prolong the engagement in hopes the other party will begin to grow impatient and concede negotiation points. In my experience, with a one-on-one conversation with superiors, it’s still better to address it in a timely fashion"

This is money.

 

Were you ever actually called a "blabbering worthless nincompoop" by your boss? How did he/she say it in Chinese?

These are some Interesting takeaways. Have you read Managing the Dragon by Jack Perkowski aka "Mr China"? His book deals mostly with managing Chinese employees/associates and dealing with local Chinese partners.

Too late for second-guessing Too late to go back to sleep.
 

Suscipit delectus itaque aut repudiandae consectetur repellendus alias temporibus. Delectus consequuntur officiis accusamus nihil molestiae fugiat ut. Deserunt voluptas dolorem eius non veniam qui.

Rerum aspernatur occaecati pariatur eaque ducimus est voluptatem. Minus iusto similique reprehenderit suscipit ipsam soluta fugiat numquam. Inventore quos nihil aut nisi itaque sint. Et quia omnis autem qui.

Career Advancement Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. (++) 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

March 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (86) $261
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (13) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (202) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (144) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
3
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
4
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
5
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
6
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
7
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”