A while ago, I wrote a post about eating melon seeds in the office, which captures the challenges foreign managers face in China in a nutshell. I am sure many of you have first hand experience in your work.

So what does it take to manage your team effectively in China? The best answers and thoughts are to be found among the practitioners. That’s why I have started a new interview series on my Suixuntong.com . It features conversations with foreign managers in China who face dual challenges of management and cultural peculiarities. I prompt the guest with one question, ‘how do you get the most out of your team’? It often leads to some fresh insights about managing people in China. This first interview with Peter Bomer, who has both senior management experience at a large MNC in China and running his own business here vividly illustrates it.

I have known and worked for some great foreign managers in China. From my pint of view, an essential part of their success is that they work particularly hard to understand their local staff’s perception, action and motivation shaped by the socio-cultural context. They go beyond than just saying ‘why don’t my staff get it’. They observe, communicate and reflect to find a better approach.  I hope their stories will give you a look inside managing people in China and help you manage your team more effectively here. You can subscribe to the podcast on itunes by searching the name ‘Suixuntong’, or listen online on suixuntong.com.

I look forward to hearing your comments on the show. I am also keenly looking for guests, please feel free to contact me jennyzhu@suixuntong.com.

Thank you!