What you need to know when working with Indians

If you work with Indians, you know this is not always easy. We asked Michel Koopman, director of the Leela Palace Hotel in Guragon, how he manages a thousand people. Here are five of Koopman's tips on working with Indians.

1. Communicate widely, transparently and clearly
"We organise very regular sessions with staff to communicate our approach and goals. This is necessary to get everyone on the same page. In addition, my office is very accessible, anyone can walk in here."

2. Treat everyone with respect
"Indians are a proud people, and rightly so. This country has a rich history and is going to achieve a lot in the coming years."

3. Different strokes for different folks
"We employ a thousand people. There are dishwashers who don't speak a word of English, but also managers who want my job in a few years' time. I am transparent and honest, but my approach differs from person to person." 

4. Realise that Indians don't like to say 'No'
Someone said to me the other day, "Mr Koopman, we don't lie, we just don't always tell the truth."

5. India is a very hierarchical country.
"In India, people respect elders. Grey hair helps to command respect from Indian staff."

Want to know more about working in India? Sign up for the workshop 'Communicating Effectively with Indians' on 15 September!

Culture clash kills Dutch hockey coach in India

Hockey coach and entrepreneur Paul van Ass was sacked as national coach of the Indian hockey team after five months. "From the first day of work, the communication in India problematic."

Paul van Ass motivates his team in India

Culture clash
The clash between Paul van Ass and Narinder Batra, the president of the Indian hockey federation, was a classic clash of cultures. After the quarter-final match won by India in the Hockey World League in Belgium, Batra entered the field. Van Ass: "To compliment the players, I thought at first. But it soon transpired that he was calling the players names because he thought they had not played well. At that moment Van Ass intervened. "I asked the chairman to leave the pitch. On the pitch I am the boss. Besides, I thought we had played well."

Dismissal
The successful hockey coach, who won the silver medal with the Dutch men's team at the Olympic Games in London, immediately realised the importance of the incident. Van Ass: "I immediately thought: either we split up now or we will finally have a good talk in which we will make clear agreements and take important steps towards the 2016 Olympics. That conversation had never taken place before and never did: Van Ass had to step down.

Communication and hierarchy
Communication in India was problematic from the very first working day, says Van Ass. "Before you start working together, you normally sit down to discuss goals and divide responsibilities. I did say that I wanted to be in charge of top sport, but that was never confirmed by the hockey association. In the beginning Van Ass was given some space for his approach, but soon interference from above began. Without consultation, training matches were cancelled, training locations changed and the physiotherapist was fired. "It soon became clear that the chairman wanted to decide everything himself. That's a shame, because it's never going to work.

Paul van Ass during a match of the Indian men's team

Business opportunities
Despite his unsuccessful sporting adventure in India, Van Ass, who is not only a hockey coach but also an entrepreneur and investor, remains fascinated by the country in which he would like to do business. "There are great business opportunities in India. Certainly in Bangalore, the Silicon Valley of India. But you have to be in it for the long haul and find a reliable partner."