Loss of Face Management books on doing business in Asia often talk about the loss of face and the effect that it has on business and personal relationships. It is true that preserving and losing face are serious concerns for Indonesian employees. The foreign manager needs to understand this and consider the consequences of his actions.
Lets look at a loss of face situation in the office and examine how the parties perceive the event.
Jean LeGrand is the production supervisor for a French multinational in Jakarta. Angered by the actions of one of his senior managers, Jean confronts him in front of the other office workers. You have to understand and follow the procedure that I have laid out. I ll find some one who can, he said. This was meet by silence on the part of the manager and his office workers.