Examples of face saving in the west help explain”face saving” to western executives

The concept of “face” and “face saving” does exist in Western Cultures, although it is far less prominent, salient and discernible in the business domain than it is in Asia.

When I consult executives who are about to/have just assumed a role in Asia, one of the first things I deal with is the need to understand the concept of face. Unlike many, I start with giving examples of face in the Western world.

For example-

1) Your aging father calls you in the morning and ask you, “how are you feeling, sonny boy?” The “truth” is that you are very worried about an income tax issue, and you have a severe headache. Yet you answer “fine Dad, and how are you”. You want to save your father from feeling uncomfortable.

Preventing people from feeling uncomfortable is a key aspect of face saving; the Thais call this type of face saving “kleng jai” (deferential heart).

2) Your partner asks you “how do I look in this new dress”. The “truth” is that you are very busy with other issues and clothes are not your thing. “Great, darling”, is your answer. You prefer harmony to telling her “I am not the person to ask, and this is not the right moment”.

The preference of harmony to conflict is another component of face saving.

3) You tell a visiting colleague, Igor, from Russia, “Why don’t you come by and visit next time you are in the States?” You have no intention to ever follow through on that, but you want to make Igor feel good.

Imparting a good feeling without any intent to follow through with action is another element of face saving.

4) You compete for a tender and loose. You pick up the phone, call your lost potential client, and “thank” him for giving you and chance and wish him “success”. You avoid telling “truth” because civility, not truth, serves the relationship.

Civility at all costs is another major component of face saving.

All of the above constitute face in the Western world. In Asia, the use of these behaviours is overwhelming, but there is nothing that does exist, mutatis mutandis, in the west.

 

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5 thoughts on “Examples of face saving in the west help explain”face saving” to western executives

  1. Allon,

    Great, as usual.

    The best example of face in a Western setting comes in the closing scene of the movie “The Outlaw Josie Wales”. Josie Wales (Clint Eastwood) is pursued by a bounty hunter. In their experiences leading up to that scene both come to understand its time to let the past be buried. In that scene, both talk as if they do not know who the other person is but say, essentially, in a face-saving way: forgiveness.

    Cordially,

    Ed
    Drive On!\

  2. I remember a film where Patton is meeting with other members of the Allied Forces. Realizing he may have made a mistake in his military plan and does not want to admit it, Patton blows up, yelling:”I may be an ugly bastard, but I know I am right.” Then he dares his colleagues to prove publicly where he is wrong. The dare is met with total silence. Near the end of the meeting, Patton returns with a last statement: “Now that you all see I was right, let’s make this happen.” But George, replied General Bradley, you are wrong…you’re not that ugly.” After the meeting was over, Patton asks Bradley to stay behind. Alone with Bradley, he proceeds to ask : “OK, Brad, where can I get in trouble here?.”

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