Former Belgium Ambassador Paul Johnson talks about Learning Organisations in Vietnam

WE@WORK
Dec 26, 2023
4 min read

Read about "Learning organisations in Vietnam"

Former H.E Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam, Mr Paul Johnson, discusses with the Founder of Respect Vietnam, Ha Dang, about how the Vietnamese work, how the workplace dynamics change, how the laws make progress in Vietnam and how to learn inside an organisation.

KEY MESSAGES

1. Does the working environment affect how Vietnamese people work?

2. The Balance between Personal & Professional Relationship

3. Why Learning Organizations are essential

4. Law of making progress in Vietnam

5. HOW to learn inside an organization?

6. The good side of Covid-19

7. How to help females learn for themself and for an organization?

Learning within your organization is essential. It encompasses enhancing your job performance, gaining new skills relevant to your role, and understanding workplace dynamics. The initial focus should always be on internal learning, which is the strategy we adopt in my administration

1. Does Learning Organisations affect how Vietnamese people work?

Former H.E Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam believes that in Vietnam, the working relationship is similar to one in Korea:

I agree, but there's another dimension to consider. As a Westerner who has worked in Korea, I see Vietnam trying to follow a similar path. In my experience with Korean work relationships, there's a personal dimension between company leadership and workers that you don't find in Europe. In Europe, you sign a contract, work, and receive your salary—end of story. In Asia, however, there's a more emotional aspect, a special personal link between the employee and the employer or boss. It's often very hierarchical as well.

"Vietnam has some similarity to Korea. In Korea, it's customary for the boss to invite all colleagues to have Korean barbecue and drink Soju. It's normal for everyone to attend, although you can miss it if you're sick. However, if you consistently decline, saying you need to go home, you'll be excluded from the group. This social expectation is different from what you see in Europe or the United States. It's not unique to Korea; similar practices exist in Vietnam, Japan, and possibly China, although China has changed a lot recently."

2. The balance between Personal & Professional Relationship

Former H.E Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam, Mr Paul Johnson, discusses with the Founder of Respect Vietnam, Ha Dang

It sounds like you're observing some intriguing differences in behavior between work and everyday activities, such as traffic, in various Asian countries. You noted that workers in these countries often seem more dedicated to achieving their goals, while in traffic, people might act more independently or even contrary to what others are doing.

This contrast highlights how context can influence behavior. At work, there might be a stronger emphasis on collective goals and teamwork, leading to more dedication and alignment. In traffic, individual decisions and immediate needs might take precedence, resulting in more varied behaviors.

It's fascinating to consider how the same person can exhibit different characteristics in different situations. Your observations are subjective, but they open up an interesting discussion about cultural and contextual influences on behavior.

3. Why Learning Organizations are essential?

Former H.E Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam, Mr Paul Johnson, cared so much about Learning

I believe it's not just that they should engage in organizational learning, but they have no choice if they want to be successful.

When you come to Vietnam from Europe, you don't know the country and have a different mentality. This has been my experience as well, coming here for diplomacy rather than business. You have to listen to your Vietnamese colleagues to understand the country.

The same applies to business—if you don't know the market, you're lost. You need to work together and share insights with your Vietnamese colleagues to understand the situation. Sometimes, it's simple, but it's crucial.

In business, if you don't understand the market, you're out.

For me, I might face difficulties, but I stay. For a business, not understanding the market means you're out of the market. It's an obligation, a must. It's part of growing as a company and as an individual. Exchanging views with colleagues, especially local ones, is key to understanding the market and achieving success.

"... This idea of learning also ties into lifelong learning, which is well-developed in Europe. For example, in the Nordic countries, statistics show that at least 50% of people aged 25 to 65 have had at least one adult learning experience. Continuous learning is crucial in our world of deep transitions, like the green and digital transitions. If you don't keep up, you'll be out of the market and out of a job. Continuous learning is essential in all jobs, especially in business, where survival depends on it...."

Read about VCOL - Vietnam Community of Organisational Learning