The expatriate experience<\/p>\n
I read with some interest the article by Donna Woodward which
\ntouched on the actual responsibilities of the highly paid foreign
\nadvisers and consultants that currently worked here in Indonesia.
\nNo doubt this touched a few nerves around the luxury apartments
\nthat are the homes of such individuals, but I wonder if the
\nfeeling of guilt will last long enough to see breakfast out of
\nthe way.<\/p>\n
It reminded me very much of my first assignment in this
\ncountry, when on arrival I was advised of the do's and don'ts
\nthat would be expected of me in the province of Aceh. By the time
\nI had absorbed most of these my game plan for company improvement
\nwas somewhat depleted, and this was before I even set foot in my
\noffice. I was often told when coming up with an idea for
\nimprovement that my job was simply as an adviser, and
\nsubsequently such ideas got conveniently forgotten, or mislaid.<\/p>\n
The main problem with all these restrictions was that they
\nwere coming from long-established expatriates, who had been here
\nso long that their only real policy was one of not rocking the
\nboat. Now confrontation is surely something that none of us wish
\nto experience on a daily basis, but then "change", which is why
\nwe so-called experts are here in the first place, will inevitably
\nbring an element of confrontation into any discussion.<\/p>\n
Our ideas are not always the best in practice, despite their
\nproven success in the western world, but then most commonsensical
\nadvisers would accept this to a degree. What I found the most
\ndifficult aspect to live with was that the same hypocrisy was
\nbeing voiced by the overweight and very comfortably off expat
\nbosses, who were themselves very quick to criticize the locals
\nfor being guilty of the same.<\/p>\n
Another problem that needs to be recognized and addressed, if
\npossible, is the mix of nationalities that make up expat
\nmanagement teams. A multiethnic minefield of historic calamities
\nthat bring back to life the two world wars and the many unwelcome
\nvisits to various shores that were the ancestral activities of
\nour forefathers.<\/p>\n
Here in Indonesia you have the same ethnic problems, and
\nunfortunately many cannot live together in peace and tranquility.
\nThe French, for example, do not particularly like the English,
\nthe Germans always think they know best, and the rest of the
\nworld cannot agree on the day of the week let alone the best way
\nforward. This may sound trivial and petty but such clashes of
\nnationalities do affect decisions, and most expats, if they were
\nhonest, have experienced such turmoil.<\/p>\n
It is not just a case of telling Indonesians what to do, it is
\nmore a case of finding the right approach to introduce much-
\nneeded change. Management is often sadly lacking in this area,
\nand in the case of Indonesia, expats often adopt an overriding
\nattitude of "softly-softly", when really the opposite is
\nrequired. Bravery and courage in the face of resistance is often
\nconfused with a poor understanding of the local thinking --
\nexpats taking one step forward and three back when the alarm
\nbells start ringing.<\/p>\n
What we are here for anyway if we cannot give this country the
\nvery best that we can offer, even if that does get up the nose of
\nsome people. Sure there will be resistance, especially from those
\nthat will lose out if changes are made, but if the approach is
\nwell thought out, and the benefits clearly explained right down
\nthe line, then there is a very good chance of success. I should
\nimagine right across Indonesia the "expat experience" would
\ncollectively make a best-seller if all events could be recorded
\nin one rather interesting book.<\/p>\n
None of us expats, hopefully, posses a halo, but for the
\nsalaries paid there are no excuses whatsoever for expat
\nunderperformers, and no room at all for those that fail to have
\nthe courage to stand by their professional decisions.<\/p>\n
But Jakarta life is good, the living is cheap, and a few years
\nmore will see a pension most people can only dream about.<\/p>\n
DAVID WALLIS<\/p>\n
Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/the-expatriate-experience-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }