Bangkok Post Kriengsak Niratpattanasai Column.

Byline: Kriengsak Niratpattanasai

Oct. 5--Recently, I was invited to give a speech on the topic of "Enhancing working relationships with foreigners".

The audience was to consist of Thais who currently worked with foreigners or would be working with foreigners in the near future. As it turned out, the event had to be postponed, but I would like to share with readers the presentation I had prepared.

Globalisation, the borderless economy and free trade are inevitably forcing Thais to contact, do business with or work with foreigners. When people from different backgrounds, nationalities, cultures and values have to work together, it is highly likely that some conflicts, frustrations or disappointments might occur. The consequences could be low productivity, work pressure or job-related stress.

Our goal today is to recognise what challenges could result from working together with foreigners and how both sides can work together to enhance the working relationship.

First, let's look at our foreign colleagues who come from different environments and backgrounds to work in Thailand. Some have been posted overseas on short notice and many have to leave their families behind at home.

Their daily lives are different. As Thais, almost all the people we meet in the course of a day are familiar in terms of nationality, race and religion. For foreigners, most of the people they interact with are strangers.