Sumiko and Vincent are a piano duo. They are very talented and have performed in many countries. Sumiko is from Japan, Vincent from the Netherlands. They graduated from the Conservatory of Music in Amsterdam and decided to perform professionally together.
Sumiko’s education in Amsterdam was a cultural roller coaster, as she herself says. In Japan, learning an instrument is a full-time job, a difficult and challenging one. Expectations are high and competition is fierce. “My parents and all my teachers had only one thing in mind: to make me the best pianist. Fortunately, they were very proud of my progress. I started performing at a young age and quickly became the star of the family and the town. My parents were very focused and saved every penny to send me to the best teachers and eventually abroad. They expected the same focus from me.”
In Amsterdam, Sumiko met many Dutch talents, such as Vincent. Vincent is a child prodigy. She is surprised and actually sometimes downright irritated when she sees how lax the Dutch, and Scandinavians, are when it comes to ambition and achievement. She, as well as students from the United States, South Korea, China and Poland, could not understand that. “We recently performed at Carnegie Hall. After two, admittedly good, rehearsals, Vincent decided it was time to hit the town! I couldn’t believe it and got very angry. After all, we had to perform at the highest level the next day! I want to be the best! Then how can you go explore the city at your leisure…”
Vincent is very happy with his piano partner. “Sumiko is such a good artist. She is not only talented, but also a hard worker. She works long hours and expects full attention and dedication from herself and also from others. Sometimes I tried to slow her down, but I learned the hard way that that is not an option. She has a mission. Recently we were in New York; I had been looking forward to being there and experiencing the city, but for Sumiko, only the piano counts! There’s more to life than the piano, right? Still, we do our best. Anyway: despite, or perhaps because of, our different views on performance, we make a great team together.”
Sumiko and Vincent, on their way to success, do their best to understand and accept each other. Sumiko realizes that Vincent is motivated not only by his success, but also by his friendships and hobbies outside of music. That has helped him become successful. Vincent accepts that Sumiko’s extreme focus is something that works for her. But he also notices that if he doesn’t insist she still shows up at the pub more often, albeit for just one beer.
Where is the connection?
Sumiko came to Amsterdam expecting the same focus on performance as in Japan. But the Dutch are motivated differently, as we already saw in Empathy land. They seemed to have less focus. Not while rehearsing, but they just seemed less interested in long hours. It’s about the difference in “be the best” or “do your best.
The way people are motivated changes from one culture to another. In the workplace, this translates to a different view of work-life balance. Do you work to live, or do you live to work? In some cultures, such as Japan, the United States, South Korea, China and Poland, people are often focused on performance, and want above all to be the best. Then you also compete in the workplace.
Such competition is therefore encouraged by the employer. This is how you become better together, as a team and company. The best.
The Dutch prefer not to stand out that way, nor work their asses off to achieve it. Rather go home on time.
At the same time, the Dutch are very productive during the time they work. Okay, during meetings maybe not so much, but otherwise they are. Maybe not to be the best, but to get as much as possible out of work and then out of free time. Very efficient.
The difference with other cultures is very big and that can be very frustrating for others. Home on time because the “other” life is waiting. Picking up kids, eating on time, sports. When I came back from the United States, I too had to get very used to that, while Americans probably didn’t always understand my priorities.
In short
For Vincent:
- Accept that Sumiko comes from an achievement-oriented society.
- Success and being the best are priorities.
- As a result, Sumiko is used to a competitive work environment.
- Not everyone has to agree.
- Private matters can wait for Sumiko.
For Sumiko:
- Accept that Dutch society is much less achievement-oriented.
- Doing your best in what you enjoy most is important.
- Dutch people thrive better in a work environment where collaboration is important.
- It’s nice for the Dutch to have their noses in the same direction.The Dutch find leisure time important and work hard to get home on time.
Want to read more about culture dimensions?
Important to know:
This anecdote is based on stories shared with us. Connect2Us strives to highlight the dilemma from both sides and not to label people or suggest that one or the other should behave differently. We see in our daily intercultural work that awareness by those involved is enough to move toward each other without pretending to be very different. Connect2Us aims to help readers recognize and avoid prejudice. Read about prejudice, discrimination and racism here.
