I was discussing 'best practice' ideas today with a client. She is the HR Manager for a testing company (similar to TUV, but not them . She was asking about our trainers, with a particular focus on the language that they use to train. Most of our trainers are foreign staff, and the Chinese trainers that we have are fluent in English. I mentioned that being fluent in English was vital to learn the latest 'best practice', and she asked why.

The reason is because to-date, the management practices that the top Chinese univeristies, training firms, and individual consultants teach originate from North American or European sources. The 6 Thinking Hats, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Six Sigma and Balance Scorecard, were all developed abroad. So what, you might ask. For these ideas to become used in China this is the process:
1. Author has an idea
2. Author tests the idea on subjects (trainees, colleagues, family members )
3. Author writes the book
4. Author becomes famous (ie. Best Seller) in home country
5. Author tours the country promoting his/her idea
6. Author becomes famous around the world
7. Author tours the (English speaking) world promoting his/her idea
8. Book is imported into non-native English speaking world (ie. via airport lounges)
9. Book becomes translated into local language
10. Book becomes a best seller in local language's country (ie. China)

So as you can see, there are 10 steps before the 'best practice' ideas become famous in China, and still people may not actually read the book (only the cover). If a trainer is fluent in English (not necessary a native-English speaker), steps 5 to 10 can be avoided, and it can pass into the 'best practice' in China faster.

For example, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People become 'hot' in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou about 2 to 3 years ago. It was written in 1986! If the language of business in China became English, as it is in many European countries, we'd have seen this book appear much earlier, and consequently business practices in China would have developed faster.

Agree or not?

I noticed that a book by Robert Cialdini, "Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion" is in many English language bookshops across China and is also translated into Chinese. This book was first published in 1984, which is 24 years ago! Wow, I feel old.

Point is, that these 'new' ideas are only just coming into the bookshops. So I agree with the delay of Best Practice ideas spreading in China.

Did you buy the 'Influence' book at a shop or from a guy running a cart on a corner? Regardless, it's a great way to get educated! It's incredible that you can buy a 5-star book for 15 RMB! Knowledge has never been this cheap!