After spending two months working in China, I think there is definitely one thing we can learn from the Chinese (that is, aside from the whole ‘rest’ thing). Unlike their American counterparts, being a collectivist society, the Chinese are always operating with a ‘group first’ mentality.

This proved interesting when I first started working. When met with a challenge, I am quick to solve it. This did not go over well with my Chinese coworkers. The first time a journalist came to me with a problem, I solved it without hesitation. The second time it happened, my supervisor approached me. She told me that in the future I should consult the team before solving a problem. But what if I knew how to handle it on my own? I had to bite my tongue and turn to the group.

Now can you see how this could be somewhat frustrating? But once I accepted it, it was quite easy to adjust. I found myself constantly consulting my coworkers and figuring out better ways to address situations. I think I may have even improved my group communication. Turns out there are several ways to solve problems and I only realized this when I consulted the group and learned how each person tackles a situation. When everyone is making suggestions, you really can decide the best possible solution.

So while sometimes it’s just easier to do things on your own, it’s also worth consulting a group or team. Two, three or four brains are always better than one.

Photo by deSKOLtrolado