EAST V/S WEST MOTIVATING INDIAN WORKERS THE INDIAN SCENE-BASIC DIFFERENCE WORK LIFE BALANCE

1. SY BMS
CH.2MOTIVATION AND LEADERSHIP
1) East v/s west, motivating workers (Indian)
2) The Indian scene- basic differences.
3) Work life balance—concept, generation
difference and tips on work-life balance.
BY: DR. RENU JAIN

2. CH .2 EAST V/S WEST AND WORK
LIFE BALANCE
EAST V/S WEST
People with different cultural backgrounds behave differently
at the workplace. For eg: in eastern culture not take
appointment to meet superior. In western requires prior
appointment.
Neither is better nor worse than the other. But, if truth be
told, variations do exist even though in unpredictable
proportions.
It’s the way of looking at life that by and large differs.
It has been assumed that Asia, including Middle East, depicts
the Eastern world while Europe and North America form the
western world.
“ Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy.”

3. DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EAST AND
WEST
EASTERN
1. People cannot change.The org. Should emphasise
selection rather training. Select the right person for
the job and donot expect him to change.
2. Relationship dominate over individualistic
concerns.CEO relative get job
3. Employees work hard as needed for their survival.
4. Executive should hold important meetings in an open
area, not aware of interruptions.
5. The company intends to perform in the future as it has
done in the past.
6. Leader assume supreme status. A technically greater
man is often elevated to god-like status irrespective of
his worth.
7. Eastern culture are family centric. Couples –need to
pass through family approvals as something personal
and important as marriage. That is why marriages are
still very much pertinent.
WESTERN
1. People can change. Training is importance
because it gives an opportunity to learn on the
job.
2. People are individualistic. People should be hired
on merit basis.
3. Work hard to achieve goals.
4. Executives hold meeting in closed doors. No
interruptions.
5. Policy statements refer to long term goals. While
keeping in focus this years- quarterly reports,
innovation and flexibility to meet a dynamic and
changing future are emphasised.
6. Concept of equality is taken more seriously and
leader is just one among the rest.
7. Self is given preference over family hence
decisions on individual basis---major difference.

4. East v/s west
8. While holidays are awaited, depends
very much on the work place
approvals, nature of the individuals
and mindset of the society. Slogging
and labouring mindset pertinent in
the east
9. The vital decisions o one’s life are
often forced on an individual by the
family or community in the east.
10.No individual can be truly
independent in the east where the
bond with the family precedes
anything related to the self.
11. Women are still regarded as those
who sacrifice professional life and
career in favour of taking care of
the family. Although fought for but
not granted.
12. The concept of us is very strong.
The family is interdependent (
strong concerns and
responsibilities for sibling)
8. Takes time out for travelling as an
indispensable part of their lives. In
vacation they used to go out .
9. Individual is given more worth. Not
forced by the family or community .
10. The idea of independence in its true
context exists only in the western
culture. children moving out of the
parent’s house after a certain age.
11. Female is free to decide her priorities
and about her life.
12. Focuses more on individualism.

5. EAST V/S WEST
13. Cyclic development. Thus
improvement has no limits and is an
ultimate goal.
14. Not transparent in their thoughts.
15. Eastern attend more broadly- to the
overall surroundings and to the
relations between the object and the
field.
16. More scared of loosing their jobs.
Sense of community is more
important, they put great emphasis
on human relationship.
17. Doing more work if required. One
must do more than one’s job
description requires one to do.
13. Linear development, thus
improvement has a goal.
Development stops when the goal is
reached.
14. People are More transparent, open,
more outgoing in nature and in their
attitude.
15. Westerners pay attention to the focal
object.
16. More safety towards their work.
People have their own
responsibilities for their specific
works. Non interfering in the work of
others.
17. More task specific. Management is
better than east.

6. MOTIVATING INDIAN WORKERS
INDIAN APPROACH TO MOTIVATION
In today’s global market, managers often work with culturally diverse teams. Quickly fails when they try to
apply western management practices in a eastern team and vice-versa.
India has diverse workforce, and the approach you use will depend on where/which area your team based, and
the type of industry they work in. Eg: rural and mnc worker.
All employees want good salary, recognition, more than money and an occasional thank-you. It requires a
strategy tailored to each worker’s needs.
MOTIVATIONAL TECHNIQUES:
1. ASK WHAT THEY WANT OUT OF WORK: HR manager or boss is interested in a worker’s goals-- will
make many employees feel better about their jobs. Are they comfortable or feel good about project
they have been assigned.
2. CONSIDER EACH EMPLOYEE’S AGE AND LIFE STAGE: Workers nearing the end of their careers are less
focused on the next promotion than those who are just started their career. Younger workers can not
wait patiently in a job they donot find interesting.
3. MATCH MOTIVATORS TO THE COMPANY OR DEPARTMENT CULTURE: sales professionals tend to use
money as a way to measure how well they are doing. Engineers are more work oriented.
4. PINPOINT EACH EMPLOYEE’S PERSONALITY: Some people love public praise, some only thank- you.
Make sure if you are planning a ceremony to give award or recognition.
5. USE FLEXIBILITY WISELY: Allowing employees to telecommute some of the time or to set their own
office hours can have big benefits. It makes employees’ lives more manageable and it shows them that
they are trusted.
6. PUT MONEY IN ITS PLACE: An employee who demands a raise and get but might really be unhappy
because his suggestions are being ignored. People just do not want to feel like their employer is taking
advantage of them. Motivation to work hard rarely comes solely from money.
7. DO NOT RELY ON STOCK OPTIONS: If money is an unreliable motivator, stock options(holding share of a

7. 8. OFFER HELP WITH CAREER GOALS: When you ask
workers what kind of work they enjoy, also find out about
what they are hoping to do in the future. Giving workers
opportunities to build the skills and make the connections
they need to get ahead in their careers will build loyalty
and motivation.
9. HELP EMPLOYEES LEARN: The ability to gather new
knowledge on the job. Organized classes seminars ,
tuition-reimbursement programs. It is important to listen
what skills a worker is interested in acquiring, then giving
the person a chance to work on a project that will develop
those skills.
10. RECOGNIZE THAT MOTIVATION IS NOT ALWAYS THE
ANSWER: If an employee would really rather be doing
something else, It may be best to encourage these type of
people to pursue something new.

8. THE INDIAN SCENE-BASIC
DIFERENCES
1. Religion: to avoid misunderstanding, it’s best to learn about
religious requirement and practices-customs.
2. Religious holidays: help you to avoid planning mistake. Aware
of National, regional holiday international holidays.
3. Caste system: it could influence your team members, imp. To
aware of it.
4. Managing people: In India- task oriented
in western- pay, flexible hours
5. hierarchy: respect their managers.
6. Employees first .
7. Let the team think for solution of problem.
8. Recognize family commitment
9. Learn Indian values and cultural norms.
10. Ask for feedback-survey-feeling of care.

10. Work life balance
It is a concept that supports the efforts of
employees to split their time and energy between
work and other imp. Aspects of their lives.
Time for family, friends, community participation,
personal growth, spiritually, self care.
DEFINITION—” HUDSON- defines work life
balance as a satisfactory level of involvement or a
“fit” among multiple roles in a person’s lie.
 conflict due to career ambition, pressure in work
place and demands from the family.

11. # Job affect and create stress in personal life.----affect personal health both
physiologically and psychologically.
# balance will help them achieve personal goals, professional goals and
organisation goals smoothly.

12. For employers- absenteeism, less productivity, more time on counselling ,
motivation, conflict management

13. HOW TO MANAGE/MEASURES FOR
WORK LIFE BALANCE
BY EMPLOYEES:
1) Adopt time management
2) Work sharing, flexi timing, job rotation,
delegation
3) For de- stressing – engage in creative hobbies
4) Understand stress management tools
5) Remain healthy
6) Information and help by upper management

14. BY EMPLOYERS:
1) Clarify business priorities and tell them to
clear about personal priorities.
2) Providing them with support and resources
3) Flexi hours,job sharing, part time , shift work
4) Counselling and guidance against conflict
5) Training and education on stress, time,
parenting, retirement planning
6) Child care centres

15. GENERATION-DIFFERENCE
4 distinct generation in the workplace. Each have
different values and perception regarding work life
balance:
TRADITIONALISTS(1922-
1943)
• Conservative, dedicated,
strong work ethic,
respect authority, loyalty
• Utilize their vast
experience and
knowledge and give
flexible hours.
• BABY BOOMERS (1943-
1964)
• Workaholic,effecient,
desire quality,team
player,driven to succeed
title recognition,
sandwich gen.
• Needed, valued, giveTime
off for overtime and
flexible scheduling is
great incentive for this
group.

16. GENERATION X(1964-1980)
 Working mother,
independant,
entrepreneurial and
technologically savvy,want
structure and direction
 Value work life
balance,adaptable,life long
learners and provide
opportunities for growth
and development and give
them balance.
GENERATION Y (1980-2002)
• Collaborative, enthusiastic and
optimistic, self-confidence,
valuing honesty and integrity,
digital gen.,change job every 2-4
years
• Meaningful work , creative
people, successful career .
They are active in their family
decisions and expect to have
their contribution valued in org.
If not satisfied--change

28. SOME MORE TIPS:
UNPLUG YOUR GADGETS
EXERCISE AND MEDITATE
CHANGE THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR LIFE
START SMALL, BUILD FROM THERE
HAVE STRUCTURE IN PLACE
TAKE HOLIDAYS AND LONG WEEKENDS
REWARD YOURSELF
LOVE YOUR JOB.