The Philippines is one of the most popular business outsourcing locations. Aside from its economic benefits, Filipino workers provide high-quality performance like no other.
Since Filipinos are commonly warm, friendly, and have a unique style in communication. As such, many foreign businesses may find it tricky to work with Filipinos. Contrary to this belief, aligning with your Filipino workforce does not require a huge effort to meet their practices.
Workplace Culture
Workplace culture is best defined as the character and personality of your business. It is what makes your business unique from the others. It comprises business practices, traditions, values, beliefs, interactions, and attitudes. Positive workplace culture attracts talent, drives motivation, and boosts satisfaction that greatly affects the business performance.
The Filipino Business Culture
Filipino business culture is a mixture of various Eastern and Western influences. However, unlike their Western counterparts, Filipinos tend to be indirect in approach. Filipinos are more inclined to talk freely with their peers, only after establishing a cordial atmosphere. That is how rapport is being built.
How To Align With Filipino Culture
1.Recruit the Right People
Company culture is an important element that can effectively attract talent to your organization. People having the same traits, values, beliefs, and preferences as the organization tend to be happier and more productive. Thus, it is necessary to look beyond the work experiences and qualifications.
2. Get To Know The Filipino Culture
In establishing a Filipino workforce, it is essential to fully understand the Filipino culture. According to industry experts, the BPO industry in the Philippines keeps on flourishing. It is forecasted to generate annual revenue of $40 billion by the end of 2023. If you are planning to outsource in the Philippines, here are some of the things to know about the Filipino culture:
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The Hospitality
Filipinos are usually hospitable to newcomers or colleagues. They frequently offer help, sometimes even inviting them for a meal, drink, or a tour. Smiling is the most common way to reach out and say your hellos. Handshakes are often the most formal way of welcoming new members and often followed with ‘how are you?’
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The Unique Communication Style
The Philippines is known to be one of the best English-speaking countries. English is the second commonly used language among Filipinos. Respect for seniors is shown by addressing them with ‘ma’am or sir’, ‘miss or mister’, as well as with the use of ‘po and opo’. Filipinos in general hate confrontations. Instead, they tend to keep their reservations to themselves.
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The Deep Sense of Camaraderie
Colleagues are not just simply from work. Usually, Filipinos consider their colleagues as family. There is also a so-called ‘Buddy System’ which is an effective strategy to help newcomers adjust easily.
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The Generosity
Filipinos are generous. Gift-giving is a common practice, especially during holidays, birthdays, and other special events. Even when they go on trips, they always bring ‘pasalubong’ or gifts on their way home.
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The Hard Work
Filipinos are usually okay to work beyond working hours to add value to their work. Often creative and resourceful, Filipinos love to offer help to their colleagues on a difficult project.
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3. Evaluate the Relevance of Values
After deeply understanding the Filipino culture and values, the next thing to do is to assess any relevant values. Establishing the right Filipino values is also directing your business on the right path for its growth. However, if wrongly executed, those values may negatively affect your business. Thus, it is essential to evaluate and identify the relevant values to your business. Through time, some of those previously relevant values may become irrelevant for various reasons.
4. Ensure Leaders Share the Same Values
It is not enough that only employees are required to adapt to the culture and values set by the company. Leaders play an essential role in the success of cultural adaptation. For instance, a toxic foreign leader leading a Filipino workforce will intentionally ruin the credibility of the set cultural values. Even leaders must conform with the culture to effectively guide employees on the right path. This will boost the visibility of the set culture and ignite your employees connected to the organization.
5. Monitor Culture Adoption
Various technological tools can also be used to monitor culture adoption. It can be through employee engagement software or survey questionnaires. This practice greatly helps to measure the alignment of the employee as well as the leaders’ adoption of the set cultural values. In implementing a change of culture, it is important to understand employees and their stand on the change.
6. Encourage Behavioral Change
Encouraging peer-to-peer recognition and manager-to-employee recognition increases employees’ desire to bring the company culture to practice. Providing individual recognition or rewards to employees boost employee satisfaction and results in positive behaviors. This will also enhance the bond between employees and managers.
Never Neglect the Culture
Company culture is one of the determining factors on the level of the business performance as well as the employees’ satisfaction. However, most organizations fail to share their fundamental beliefs and values with their employees. Some do not even bother defining their core values. This is where disconnection happens. This should not be the case. Cultural alignment is a strategic asset that any business can take leverage on.
Do You Plan to Outsource in the Philippines?
Filipinos are not only hardworking employees but strong and independent leaders, too. Filipino values and culture in the workforce also work wonders. It is never a difficult time to build rapport with your Filipino workforce. After understanding the Filipino culture, it is easier to manage your Filipino team members.
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