I. Excellent Leaders in Asia must over and over again demonstrate a "Paternal Holistic Approach and Attitude" when operating in a Multiracial Society.

• For that we must first and foremost Focus upon and deeply Respect Cultural differences.
• The Fundamental Cultural Differences between the East and the West are:

1. In the East people are working from the basis of having and giving “Face”, to avoid “shameful” situations.
   
   In the West people are working from the basis of internal “conscience”, to avoid “guilt” situations.
   
   
2. What are then the basis Attitude Behaviours:
   In the East – Harmony is most important, aiming at avoiding conflicts at all costs, always looking for Win-Win situations.
   
   In the West – The approach is at times Confrontational;It is important to WIN. This may result in a Win – Lose situation, if not managed in the right manner.
   
   
3. As concerns The Basic Organizational Behaviours:
   In the East – People Work in Groups
   In the West – People Work as Individuals
   
   
4. What are then The Basic Working Approaches:
   In the East – The “soft” “ESSES”, such as Staff, Skills, Style and Subordinated goals are applied.
   
   In the West – The “hard” “ESSES”, such as Strategy, Structure, and Systems are the basis for the working approaches.

II. From the aforesaid follows:

• We must always show RESPECT for:
  - All Religions
  - All Races,and
  - All Cultures
  
  
• We must combine the Hard with the Soft “ESSES”.
  
  We therefore need a blend of:
  The Eastern “Art” of Leading, And
  The Western “Scientific” Management Approaches
  
  
• We must inform each Employee what is expected of her or him.
  In other words, we must clearly define:
  - Their Roles
  - Their Functions
  - Their Responsibilities
  
  
• We must
  - Be patient
  - Even more patient, and
  - Patient at all times.
  
  
• Furthermore, we must always be
  - Friendly
  - Fair, but
  - Firm
  
  
• In is mandatory to AVOID
  - Favouritism
  - Discrimination against any Races, Cultures, and Gender
  - Involvement in Politics, and
  - Interference in Religious Matters
  
  
• Over and over again we must as Leaders demonstrate:
  - Honesty
  - Integrity, and
  
  LEAD by
  - BEST EXAMPLES, and
  - BEST PRACTICES
  - through MBWA (Management By Walking Around)

• We must AVOID OVERREACTING - causing
  - Lost of FACE
  - Loss of TRUST, and
  - Loss of BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
  
  
• Furthermore, we must AVOID
  - Losing our TEMPER
  - Bang the Table
  - Raise our voices unnecessarily
  - And use Foul language

III. The most Powerful POWER POINT in Asia therefore becomes, that the Leadership Approaches and Attitudes at all times must be PATERNAL. That can, however, work two ways. Positively or Negatively.

• At the most fundamental level successful leaders need, to create an environment conducive to High Productivity and Cost Efficiency – through High Performing Teams.
• The most important strategy therefore becomes that of having, many HIGH PERFORMING TEAMS throughout all our operations.
• Excellent Leaders recognize only through Teamwork can we win and succeed.
• They believe in the multiplying effects of excellent Teamwork, as being a most powerful, POWER POINT.
• They recognize the contributions of others,and strive for Mutual success and reward.
• They realize that no team is stronger than its weakest links, which requires them to be continuously focused on improving the weak links.
• High Performing Teams are dependent upon Honest and Excellent Team Leaders.
• We Lead People, but we manage and control processes and businesses from which follows, whenever people are involved, we consider a business to consist of One Team, with a Number of Sub-Teams, each with a Team Leader.
• The Team Leaders must be Honest, And lead by Best Examples and Best Practices, which are the very basis for, an Honest and Excellent Team, and Honest and Excellent Sub-Teams.
• What are then the Power Points to Motivate the Teams, for High Productivity and Cost Efficiency?
• Excellent Leaders must continuously Monitor the performances, of the colleagues under their responsibility, and train, coach, and reward wherever appropriate.
• They must be committed to Hands-On Leadership.
• They insist that the Organizational Strategy, is the most important of all strategies, being the pillar on which the successful implementation, of all other strategies are dependent, and hence must follow the criteria of:
• The leadership must be in Direct Contact with the Operational Units, for continuous Assessments.
• All organizations must be transparent without any Dual reporting.
• The job responsibility must be combined with a Matching job authority.
• Excellent Leaders demand a tight and timely Follow-Up in all delegated matters.
• They demand Attention to Details – by everybody, which the Leaders themselves continuously must be Demonstrating.
• They demand a high level of Discipline throughout the Organization.
• Excellent Leaders must demonstrate a Positive Attitude – ALWAYS
• They must never accept CANNOT as an answer.
• They ask for Solutions – but are always ready to discuss the Positive problem solving approach
• There is actually only one little difference between ordinary people and Leaders. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether the attitude is Positive or Negative.
• Excellent Leaders believe in the perseverance and Hard Work in realizing their goals.
• Leaders must act Objectively at all times, and endeavour to be diligent in all their undertakings.
• They will not hesitate to Reward good efforts and positive contributions, and correct weak performances, company politics and glory hunting.
• They provide attractive and competitive remuneration, to Members of their Teams, and high Rewards when they exceed targets, Commensurate with efforts and results by the individuals and the Teams.
• Leaders must be Equitable in whatever they do.
• Excellent Leaders believe – and practice, Equality of Race, Religion and Gender,and respect the Cultures and Customs of the Lands where they operate.

IV. When dealing with foreign cultures - more often than not a “Third” language has to be used as the medium of communication, which potentially can add Confusions to an already complex environment.

• The Authors of “Managing in a Plural Society” has expressed it as follows: “I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize, that what you heard, is not what I meant”.
  
  
• The Confusion obviously can be caused by Either party.
  
  
• We therefore recommend to live by the Rule when doing business with other cultures:
• “What can go Wrong will go Wrong”.
• This necessitates a constant Follow-Up in Writing to ensure that all misinterpretations will be sorted out as early in the process as at all possible.
  
  
• Follow-Up, Monitoring, and Assessments therefore becomes daily never ending exercises.

V. We have developed a Proposed Success Formula when living and working in alien countries:

Quote “We must apply the Positive and Friendly PATERNAL LEADERSHIP.

We shall be prepared to do more than we need to,
before we are asked to
not because we have to,
but because we want to,

We must aim to create
A harmonious, respectful, calm,
and pleasant environment

Even in the most frustrating situations,
always talk and behave,
in a positive and pleasant manner

Daily friendly Monitoring against agreed Key Performance
Indicators, and Follow-up,
will pay high dividends
which combined with,
continuous assessment of the performance of
the Teams and the Individuals
for skills and competence upgrading where needed,
and timely justifiable rewards,
are the very basis for creating,
High Performing Individuals and Winning Teams”

A generous “heart” and approach,
will be reciprocated plentiful

Unquote

VI. Finally a few supporting Ancient Asian and Foreign Idioms:

“When entering a country find out its customs”

“Patience brings peace”

“Impatience for a moment, trouble for many years”

“When words reach your lips, let half of them stay there”

“Lack of forbearance in small matters frustrates great plans”

“Don’t use your rank to humiliate others, nor use your cleverness to deceive them”

“The soft can get the better of the hard”

“He who has more virtues than talents is a superior man, he who has more talents than virtues is an inferior man”

“To do good is the greatest joy”

“Goodwill breeds goodwill and is good for businesses”

“Charity and justice are worth a thousand taels of gold”

VII. Furthermore:

“There are truths on this side of the Pyreness that are falsehood on the other" - Pascal

“A man who works with his hand is a labourer; a man who works with his hands and his brain is a craftsman, but a man who works with his hands, his brain and his heart is an Artist" - Louis Nizer

“Let us just be sure that whatever we do is Consistent with our Respect for the individual and the Alien Culture. We must balance the “Hard” Values of the West with the “Soft” Values of the East.”
- Professor Tan Sri Datuk Hamzah - Sendut
- Professor Gregory Thong Tin Sin
- John Madsen
The authors of “Managing in a Plural Society