Cultural Differences

Working for a Global Company is ok.

Well, it must be OK - as this May will mark my 18th year!

Time has flown past. Every year is different and mostly good.

In recent times, there has been a lot more Head Office scrutiny.
They find many issues in their small country offices that perplex them.

Apparently, I don't empathise enough with their "perplexation" - I find myself constantly on the back foot.
They allude that I am "unprofessional" & "cowboyish" - but they like my refreshing outlook!!??

My anxieties kick in as I try to work out what I am meant to be "worked up" about.
But, I find my version of "finance" & "administration" to be simple and effective.
They just call it simple.

They said "we don't think you understand Risk!"

How to reply to accusations?

I've paid a mortgage, raising children, ran a business, worked in many industries, have decades of experience ...

Am I meant to justify myself?

Are our numbers good? YES
Do we have an outstanding relationship with our customers & suppliers? YES
Do we have the longest staff tenures? YES
Do we outdo larger sized offices with our small team? YES
Do staff go outside of their roles to achieve outstanding results? YES
Do staff collaborate, even if they have a personal distaste for each other? YES
Are our systems multifaceted, efficient and non-bureaucratic? YES

One of the accusations, cause that is all I can call them, was that ...

"Your office is so efficient, that we are concerned that, if there was the wrong intention, that the bad things can be done efficiently too!"

Ok, too efficient. But ... I said "for over 16 years, we have not had any problem. So to me, the risk is managable."

Their reply to that was

"The reason that you haven't had any problems is that you have HIRED GOOD PEOPLE"

And my response to that was ... "SO, you're complimenting me?"

Effective
Efficient
Simple
Transparent .. oh yes, transparent, as any bad thing is easy to see - I encourage my guys to highlight any mistakes they make.

Mistakes are an opportunity for improvement.

Sigh

So after my anxieties kick in, they spin around and around, and then I become numb - I cannot resolve other people's mindsets.
Surely that's not my problem

But please visit Bobophets post about drama - now that's a goodie

Images: from Google general search.
@bobaphet : dynamic