Filipino culture is known for its strong family ties, hospitality, and resilience. These values play a significant role in shaping how Filipinos behave and interact with others, including in the workplace. As a result, Australian businesses building remote teams in in the Philippines should familiarise themselves with these cultural nuances to effectively manage and motivate their Filipino teams.
In a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management, they found that Filipinos value job security, relationships with colleagues, and work-life balance above all else. This study underpins the importance of creating a positive work environment and fostering strong relationships among employees.
To understand Filipino culture, it's essential to appreciate the concept of "pakikisama." This Filipino term refers to the strong sense of social harmony and belongingness among individuals, which is deeply ingrained in Filipino culture. Filipinos value relationships, collaboration, and teamwork, and these are integral to their way of life.
Another important cultural aspect to note is the concept of "hiya." This Filipino term translates to shame or embarrassment and is closely tied to the desire to maintain social harmony. Filipinos are generally respectful and non-confrontational, preferring to avoid conflict or situations that may cause embarrassment.
Filipinos value relationships, collaboration, and teamwork, and these are integral to their way of life.
When it comes to managing Filipino employees, it's essential to establish trust and build strong relationships. In Filipino culture, relationships are based on trust, and this trust needs to be earned over time. You should take the time to get to know your Filipino employees, show interest in their personal lives, and build a personal connection with them. This can help establish a sense of camaraderie and create a positive working environment.
Communication is also critical, be mindful of the language you use and avoid confrontational or aggressive tones. Filipinos respond better to a soft and gentle approach and may shut down if they feel attacked or criticized. Ensure you are clear in your communication and avoid vague or ambiguous language, as this can cause confusion. Process is king when leading Filipino teams, establishing clear guidelines around work process and tasks will go a long way to establishing a productive remote team.
Process is king when leading Filipino teams, establishing clear guidelines around work process and tasks will go a long way to establishing a productive remote team.
To keep Filipino employees engaged and motivated, it's important to understand their intrinsic motivation. In Filipino culture, family is a significant source of motivation, and many Filipinos work hard to provide for their families. Platinum Outsourcing tap into this by offering family-friendly working hours (our teams predominantly work a morning shift, finishing by either 2pm or 3pm in the afternoon, local time, additionally we offer flexible working arrangements). This means we not only get access to a broader pool of talent, but we are also able to keep our teams happy and motivated at work.
A study by Gallup found that engagement levels among Filipino employees are higher than the global average. However, and perhaps more importantly, this same study found that Filipino employees are more likely to leave their jobs due to work-life balance issues. This highlights the importance of offering family-friendly policies and work-life balance programs to keep Filipino employees engaged and motivated.
Recognition is also important in Filipino culture, and employees appreciate being acknowledged for their contributions. Take the time to recognise your remote teams' efforts and celebrate their successes, both big and small. This can be as simple as a verbal acknowledgment or a small token of appreciation. The important thing to remember to to engage and include them in the same way you would your onshore team. To assist with this, Platinum Outsourcing deploy a company wide reward and recognition program, rewarding and recognising our team for their contributions regularly.
Have you considered offering additional training and development opportunities for your remote teams? Filipinos value education and continuous learning, and they appreciate opportunities to improve their skills and knowledge. Offering training and development programs that align with your remote teams' career goals and aspirations can improve on-the-job performance, and foster a sense of belonging between your remote team and your onshore business.
Platinum Outsourcing deploy a company wide reward and recognition program, rewarding and recognising our team for their contributions regularly.
To summarise, if you have (or plan to build) a remote team in the Philippines, it will pay dividends for you to seek to understand the nuances of Filipino culture as a means to effectively manage and motivate your remote employees. Building strong relationships, effective communication, being flexible in working arrangements, providing recognition, and offering training and development opportunities are all essential to keep Filipino employees engaged and motivated in the workplace. By embracing these cultural nuances, you will create a positive work environment and build a strong and motivated remote workforce.
Keen to learn more about how Australian businesses just like yours are engaging remote teams in the Philippines? You can contact us via this link, or email info@platinumoutsourcing.com.au.
