How
to Successfully Work with People
Characterized
by the So-called Thai Mentality
James
S. Saentaweesook
May
2017
Understanding
the Thai mentality, Thai Characteristics, Beliefs, Values and Behaviors: A
Research Rekindler
To successfully work and live in peace with people characterized
by the so-called Thai Mentality, one needs to understand them well enough in
order to deal with them effectively or deal with them fruitfully.
This article will prove to be useful to both
foreigners who have to work with Thais.
It should be noted that some Thai nationals do not
have the same Thai mentality as the majority of the Thai people; and, in most
cases, the former includes cross-cultural nationals or those brought up in the
West.
This article is based on my own research, personal
observations and experiences; though, some of the information about which I am
sharing was derived from the book “Depiction of the Kingdom of Siam” written by
a Roman Catholic diplomat from France to Siam, Simon de la Loubere (1642-1729).
Here is a brief summary of what you need to know
before starting to deal with them:
1. They look down upon people and love to make jokes
about them.
2. They love teasing others.
3. They are confident of what they claim to know,
while, in fact, they do not really know.
4. They are content with and very proud of their
limited knowledge or ignorance; and, love to tell others about it.
5. They cannot cope with change.
6. They love gambling, but hate to legalize it.
7. They are lazy, but want to make money quickly in
an easy way such as gambling and lottery tickets.
8. They don’t like searching for knowledge.
9. They maintain their subjective perception of
things and believe that it is their knowledge.
10. They are not familiar with team building.
11. They lack a sense of responsibility.
12. They are normally hot-tempered.
(Probably, due to the
fact that they are the World’s No. 1 Consumers of Sugar!).
13. A sense of safety and security is not known or
practiced by them.
14. They don’t like difficult things.
15. They are truly forgetful and don’t like to take
notes or keep records of things.
(Otherwise, others may
think their brain is not good)
16. They don’t know social and business etiquette.
17. They are not good at modern management and
leadership.
18. They don’t know social and business etiquette.
19. They are concerned mainly about how to please
themselves.
20. They are not life-long learners.
21. They love to be on-lookers.
22. They are very emotional.
23. They love eating delicious specialty food no
matter how much it costs.
24. They are fashionistas and fashion victims.
25. They are great imitators.
26. They are among the world’s top level inventors
of excuses.
27. They are pro face-savings action.
28. They want to be Mr. Bigs.
29. They are big spenders.
30. They are hypocrites.
31. They are poor communicators.
32. They don’t know what ethics really is.
33. They are jealous of others.
34. They don’t know what forgiveness is all about.
35. They also retain elements of animism.
36. They also believe in the occult and black magic.
37. They don’t like hard work.
38. They are not familiar with time management.
39. Their typical smiles and laughter are beyond our
understanding and interpretational ability or knowledge; mostly they convey
some significant personal or subjective meaning.
40. They like to say
“Yes” most of the time even when they are unable to deliver.
41. The meanings of what they say are not quite
clear. Therefore in a professional business deal, definitions of relevant terms
must be agreed upon and put into writing.
42. They do not understand the ins and outs of
international business etiquette.
43. They are not familiar with the basic tenets of
systems thinking,
44. In making
decision, they prefer to consult fortune-tellers and mediums and the like.
45. They cannot tolerate losing face. (They are more
afraid of losing face than losing money.)
