Stephen Manallack's Marvellous India – trade, culture, investment
“Let’s talk it over” is a western obsession which does not work in India
Cultural differences can be extreme – and yet as human beings we share so much in common and want the same things – we want happiness, safety, ease of living, connections and more.
But the west has a huge obsession about the power of talking.
There is a dispute – “Let’s talk it over”.
An argument at home – “Let’s talk it over”.
We in the west truly believe this works – despite substantial evidence that “talking it over” entrenches division, builds argument and can lead to much unhappiness.
What is a cultural alternative?
I recently heard India’s Gurudev Shri Shri Ravi Shankar responding to a question from a couple who could not live well together but could not separate.
They asked “Should we talk it over?”
His response was do not focus on each other and the differences.
Instead focus on a goal. Focus on the few things you enjoy about each other.
But above all, he said don’t talk it over because – my summary – that only makes the fighting worse.
He and his wisdom will be in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth in October.
Former President, Australia India Business Council, Victoria and Author, You Can Communicate; Riding the Elephant; Soft Skills for a Flat World (published by Tata McGraw-Hill INDIA); Communicating Your Personal Brand.
Director, EastWest Academy Pty Ltd and Trainer/Speaker/Mentor in Leadership, Communication and Cross Cultural Communication.
Passionate campaigner for closer western relations with India.
Stephen Manallack is a specialist on “Doing Business with India” and advisor/trainer on “Cross-Cultural Understanding”. He is a Director of EastWest Academy Pty Ltd which provides strategic advice and counsel regarding business relations with India.
A regular speaker in India on leadership and global communication, his most recent speaking tour included a speech to students of the elite Indian university, Amity University, in Noida. He also spoke at a major Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) global summit, the PR Consultants Association of India in Delhi, the Symbiosis University in Pune and Cross-Cultural Training for Sundaram Business Services in Chennai. He has visited India on business missions on 10 occasions and led three major trade missions there. He provides cross-cultural training – Asia and the west.
View all posts by Stephen Manallack
Into India 