Career Calculus

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How to say "NO", the Indian Way ..............

If you have interacted with any person from India, you must have observed the cultural difference in the day to day interactions. Here I would like to highlight one thing that we from India can't say "No" instead we give hints to others that it might not be possible because of some or the other reason, or we will try. But we will never say a direct "No" or "Refuse" as its considered disrespectful in Indian culture. But if one try to serach out why it has been like this, why its our culture or why we are not being able to change this.

There is no one answer to it there are many reasons for the same but as per me the topmost reason is that it flows in us from TOP to BOTTOM, from OLD to YOUNG generations. Even if one try to change our parents, bosses, administrators and politicians doesn't allows us to change. The people mentioned here doesn't want to hear "No" and they consider it as their disrespect.

From our childhood we are taught to respect our elders and do as per what they want, here if someone tries to go against them and disobey what they want its considered as if you are rebelling. Hence it comes in from our childhood that we shouldn't say "No" even if we think that we won't be able to do or is not poosible or we dont want to do. The same continues in even at our schools so it kind of becomes a mantra fro us to not to refuse directly but instead if try to give some evidence first or atleast assure them that we would try. This understood / assumed as the person meaning "No" and 99.99999999999999% the task is not possible.

This culture also follow us at our work place, in most of the case you have to agree with what your boos thinks or wants you to do. In case you are have a different opinion then you might land in trouble. Here its worth to note that you can't say "No" directly but instead if you follow the same rule of "Saying YES but meaning NO" then you are the winner else your future is in God's hand. This is not the case everywhere but most of the Indian companies still has a long way to go in enabling there employees to say "No" and accept "No" from others.

In Indian Context the definition of Management is "How to say 'YES' when you mean 'NO' !!!". Even the boss would never give you the reason openly on your face but would flush out reasons on you and then its on you to interpret the what he want to convey. To add to this if you refuse something to a Customer upfront then you are considered to be the "ENEMY" of the organization. The intent is never respected but what matters always that you have annoyed the customer. Even if you are sure and you have all the reasons in your support with your intent right still you can't say "No" to a customer directly.

These are my obeservations from my experience in the corporate world, though there exists exceptions and definietly with globalization the things are changing but there is a long way to go and I feel that it's better for the customer(s) around the world to understand our culture too as we are adopting / adjusting to their's culture.