Culture is fascinating! Did you know that not every culture in the world attempts to harness and control their environment? U.S. Americans have a unique view of the forces that shape and mold their daily life. As pioneers, who met a new world with little knowledge of what lay ahead; our ancestors developed a “can do” mentality which forced them to alter their surroundings in order to survive. Though some of what we altered is regrettably lost or harmed forever, this was, nevertheless, the way we succeeded at building a nation. This “control orientation”, as it is called, can be contrasted to a more harmonious one as is present in Asia, or a more constrained one as in some Latin American or Middle Eastern countries. In Japan, allowing things to “become” or the practice of naru is an example of this harmonious orientation. Cultures whose philosophies are based in Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism emphasize living in harmony with nature and with other individuals. In traditional Japanese businesses, a good leader is often chosen not necessarily because he knows the business or the product well, but because he is able to maintain harmony within the company or the team. Cultures that place a high importance on fate or luck or the will of “god” are more constrained by their environment. They may feel that the future is not in their control and that external forces are much more powerful than human will and actions. In constraint oriented cultures where phrases like “It’s in God’s hands, or “If Allah wills it”, there is more reliance on a web of relationships and less ownership in the situation. If you succeed you are lucky, if you fail it is fate. How might these three orientations influence things like motivation, planning, embracing change or decision making in the work place? Global LT’s Cultural Training Programs - Culture and Environment