What are effective ways to build relationships with Russian team members?
If you work with a team of Russian colleagues or partners, you may face some challenges in building trust, rapport, and collaboration. Russian culture is complex and diverse, and it can be influenced by factors such as history, geography, religion, and politics. To overcome the potential barriers and create effective relationships with Russian team members, you need to understand their values, communication styles, and expectations. Here are some tips to help you do that.
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Deborah ChineduEnthusiastic Preacher/Speaker @ Dominion Life | Revivalist, Disciple Maker
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João AlvimExecutive Search | Recrutamento e Seleção | Gestão de Carreira | HR Interim Management | HR Outsourcing & Consulting |…
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Carl DensfordStrategic IT Leader | Cybersecurity Expert | Network Infrastructure Innovator | Power BI Guru | Transforming Visions…
Russian society and business are hierarchical, and people tend to follow the authority and decisions of their superiors. This means that you should avoid challenging or criticizing your Russian boss or senior colleagues in public, and instead show them respect and deference. You should also address them by their full name and patronymic, unless they invite you to use their first name. On the other hand, you should also be prepared to take responsibility and initiative when needed, as Russians value competence and results.
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Chegar a uma equipa e impor uma cultura / forma de estar radicalmente diferente não te vai trazer bons resultados! Não vais ser recebido com “festas” principalmente se a cultura da organização for de competição e não uma cultura colaborativo. Em resumo, serás sempre visto como uma ameaça e provavelmente o dito “fit” nunca irá acontecer. “Receita” conexão com o estilo e adaptabilidade será um sinónimo de inteligência até ter capacidade e elegibilidade para uma nova equipa ou organização. 👋 evite o “boicote”
Russian communication style is direct, assertive, and sometimes blunt. Russians tend to express their opinions and emotions openly, and they may use sarcasm, irony, or humor to make a point. They also value honesty and sincerity, and they may perceive vague or diplomatic language as insincere or manipulative. Therefore, you should communicate clearly and directly with your Russian team members, and avoid ambiguity or euphemisms. You should also be ready to answer questions and provide evidence for your claims, as Russians like to debate and challenge ideas.
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Building relationships with Russian team members can be enhanced by showing respect for their culture, being attentive listeners, and engaging in open communication. Additionally, taking an interest in their traditions, sharing information about your own culture, and demonstrating reliability in your work can contribute to fostering positive connections.
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When working with international colleagues, start by researching cultural norms so as not to offend. It is important to be authentic but also helpful use personality matching to best relate to an individual. Being clear and direct helps to improve communication when working with people who may not be fluent in English and remember not to use slang in order to avoid confusion or miscommunication.
Russian culture is collectivistic, and people tend to form strong bonds with their friends, family, and close colleagues. Russians like to get to know their team members on a personal level, and they may share details about their lives, hobbies, and interests. They also appreciate gestures of hospitality, such as inviting them for a meal, a drink, or a cultural event. To build personal relationships with your Russian team members, you should show interest in their background, values, and preferences, and accept their invitations or offer your own. You should also avoid topics that may be sensitive or controversial, such as politics, religion, or history.
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I have worked in Russian Federation. My experience is what different: I have created a customer oriented culture with supporting professional facilities and processes in developing markets in Central & Eastern Europe and the Far East, especially in Russia. Being fluency in Turkish, English and Dutch have contributed to this success. I have the ability to build and lead international teams and to adapt to their cultural sensitivities. Setting goals for the team, developing organizational capabilities, and modelling how the team should work together, promoting a 'world class performance' attitude was not easy, especially in a Post Soviet community.
Russian culture is high-context, and people tend to rely on the situation, the non-verbal cues, and the relationship to interpret the meaning of a message. This means that you should pay attention to the context and the tone of your Russian team members, and adjust your communication and behavior accordingly. For example, you may notice that Russians are more formal and reserved in official settings, but more informal and relaxed in social settings. You may also observe that Russians have different norms and expectations regarding time, deadlines, and punctuality, depending on the urgency and importance of the task.
Russian language is an important part of the Russian identity and culture, and it can also be a barrier or a bridge for cross-cultural communication. Although many Russians speak English or other foreign languages, they may prefer to use their native language in some situations, especially when they need to express complex or emotional ideas. To show respect and appreciation for your Russian team members, you should learn some basic Russian words and phrases, such as greetings, introductions, compliments, and apologies. You should also use a professional translator or interpreter when needed, and avoid using online translation tools or slang.
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One must realize that the differences between governments and ideologies do not necessarily translate to individual differences. Projection is a way to dehumanize the individual and only serves to further exacerbate divides at the team level. Lead/collaborate with empathy and one would be amazed at the success you could achieve despite diverse backgrounds.
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An important concept to understand is the geographical and ethnical heritage of "russians". Most of the ones currently working come from the vast geography of FSU, and might not be ethnically russian, but simply having Russian language as their primary. However, the commonality between all of the FSU immigrants would be that they work hard and are very detail oriented. You will mostly encounter baby boomers, Gen X and Millenials in the workspace, and they tend to share the same general characteristics of these generations across the globe. Baby boomer, Gen X and early Gen Y FSU immigrants might be more reserved than their American or European counterparts. Key to any successful engagement is understanding and empathy.
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