With the growing popularity of remote work, countries seem closer to each other than ever. Today, you don’t need to travel abroad to work with foreign clients. All you need is your computer, a stable internet connection, and you’re good to go.
That said, working with Western clients isn’t the same as working with Filipino bosses. After all, Filipino work culture is very different from Western work culture. Adjusting to this new work culture, not to mention working in a different time zone and language, will be difficult.
However, understanding and preparing for these are essential in ensuring a successful working relationship with your boss. To help you prepare for them, here are five things that you should expect when working with Western clients.
There’s a Big Difference in Time Zones Between the Philippines and Western Countries.
One of the most important things you should prepare for when working with Western clients is the time difference/s.
Most Western countries are usually several hours behind Philippine time. The only exception is Australia, which is two hours ahead. You can see the other time zones of Western countries here.
This means that your work schedule will either be at night or early in the morning to remain in sync with your client. You can adapt to this by adjusting your sleep schedule to suit your work shift. Just so you have enough time to rest before working.
Another thing you should do to adjust is to regularly coordinate with your boss regarding the schedule/s of your meetings and deadlines. Doing so prevents any confusion between the two of you.
Western Clients Are More Informal When Interacting With Their Employees.
A common difference between Asian vs. Western work cultures is workplace hierarchy. In Asian workplaces, such as Philippine workspaces, there is a distinct chain of command within the office. Higher-level bosses hold great authority, and employees are expected to obey and respect their seniors pretty much without question.
However, this isn’t the case in the west. Western bosses are often more informal with their employees and would even strike up conversations with them. In addition, employees are encouraged to share their opinions and ask questions during meetings.
This level of informality can be off-putting to us Filipinos, who are used to the Eastern work culture. So it’s alright to feel uncomfortable at first. After all, you’re trying to adjust to a new work environment.
However, once you get used to this setup, you should be more confident in sharing your thoughts and questions with your boss. Not only will you become more productive at work, but it will also improve your work relationships as well.
Western Clients Are More Open to Criticism and Feedback.
Besides being more informal than their Eastern counterparts, Western clients are often more open to employee criticism and feedback. To them, this helps them see what they’re doing wrong so they can improve in the future. So expect them to be very direct with their criticism.
I’m not saying Asian bosses aren’t open to criticism and feedback. But due to the power dynamics in their workplace, these often come from their superiors rather than their subordinates.
So when your boss asks you for your feedback on their decisions, don’t be afraid to be honest with them. That said, you should still remain respectful and choose your words carefully when talking to them. They’re still your boss, after all.
The English You Use May Be Different From Your Client’s.
One reason why Filipinos are in-demand is our proficiency in English. However, the English language we use isn’t exactly like the same one being used by your clients.
There’s American English, but there’s also British and Australian English. Each of these has unique terms that may be unfamiliar to you, thus possibly causing confusion.
The best way to avoid this is by familiarizing yourself with some of the terms and slang your client may use during conversation. If you’re unsure of what your client means to say, don’t be afraid to ask for clarification.
Many Western Clients Are Understanding When It Comes to Punctuality.
Nobody likes tardy employees. It shows that you’re unprofessional and have no respect for everyone else’s time.
However, due to the nature of online work, many Western clients today have begun adapting to working flexible hours. This means that so long as their employees can achieve all their tasks within the allotted period and attend meetings on time, it’s all good.
But before you think that this means you can just laze around, think again. Your client expects you to produce quality work during your agreed-upon work schedule – no matter what.
Again, this varies from client to client. Some Western clients still expect punctuality from their employees. The wisest thing to do is to always be on time to avoid trouble.
Work Abroad… at Home!
Working with Western clients is an exciting yet daunting prospect, especially if it’s your first time doing so. After all, adjusting to foreign time zones, languages, and cultures isn’t easy. Fortunately, now that you know what to expect when working with Western clients, you can better prepare yourself to succeed.
If you’re looking for opportunities to work with foreign clients, Remote Staff’s the place to go! We ensure that our clients are also keen on embracing cultural differences in the workplace, so you’ll have a great work relationship with them. Head to our jobs list to see the various online jobs you can apply to. Good luck!
