8. Angola – Limpia el jardín

8. Angola – Limpia el jardín
Estuve al cargo de un proyecto de evaluación de temas de seguridad en Angola. En ese
entonces ya llevaba 3 anos trabajando en el país en tanto que coordinador de logística. Mi
lengua maternal es el portugués. Llegaba el final de mi misión y vivía en tanto que huésped en
una casa destinada al gestor financiero de la organización, un hombre italiano que también
habla portugués. Me pidió consejo para hacer unas mejoras en la casa.
La casa tenia un pequeño jardín muy bonito con algunas plantas y 3 árboles preciosos que
olían maravillosamente. A mi juicio estaba claro que el jardín era el elemento central de
cualquier mejoría en la casa y que con pocos cambios ganaríamos un buen espacio en el que
vivir y relajarnos. Le dije al gestor financiero que tendríamos que pedir al vigilante de seguridad
que limpiase un poco el jardín ya que había bastantes colillas de cigarro y papeles por el suelo.
También le propuse la instalación de algún sistema que proporcionase sombra para poder
utilizar el jardín durante todo el día. Ambos estábamos muy ilusionados con la idea. El día
siguiente, después de desayunar, mi colega italiano llamo al guardia de seguridad y mientras
nos apresurábamos para ir a la oficina le dijo en perfecto portugués: por favor, limpia el jardín,
tiene que estar hecho para cuando volvamos a la hora de comer.
Volvimos a la hora de comer. El guardia abrió la puerta delantera de la casa. Iba sin camiseta y
estaba visiblemente sudado. Era evidente que había trabajado duro. Entramos y echamos un
vistazo al jardín. No quedaba nada. Ni árboles ni plantas. Había limpiado el jardín…
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Facilitation sheet
8. Angola – Clean the Garden
1. My cultural and professional assumptions
For the financial controller and me it was clear that «clean» meant only one
thing – to pick up trash and litter. We both speak very good Portuguese and
so did the guard. We assumed that our message was clear.
Both my colleague and I agreed that sitting in a green, shady garden would be
beautiful and relaxing.
Being in Angola for a short mission, I wanted to help my colleagues as much
as I could. But I felt I should not give orders in this situation. I felt that right
belonged to my colleague.
2. The other's cultural and professional assumptions
I assume that the guard was sure he understood what we had asked. It was a
simple order. He could do it. He knew what it meant to «clean a garden».
He clearly assumed that his job was to comply with a boss's order, without
asking any questions.
3. My feelings in the interaction
When I saw the garden I realized immediately the mistake we had made. I felt
guilty for having helped create such a misunderstanding. I felt stupid because
I should have thought about such a possibility given my previous experience
and knowledge of the culture and its ways.
I also started laughing within at myself and the comedy of the story! But I tried
not to show my feelings in front of the guard.
My Italian colleague was furious. He did not shout at the guard but told me in
English that he was fed up with the work in Angola, with the people, and that
he wanted to fire the guard immediately. This worried me and I wanted to
keep the situation under control so that it did not become too dramatic. I felt
clearly that we should not fire the guard. He did what we asked for. We were
responsible for the results.
4. Signs of the other's feelings
The guard seemed very proud of his work. He had managed to achieve a lot
of work during a short time. He may not have understood why we asked him
to cut such beautiful trees, but he did what the bosses wanted. He went home
happy.
He did not seem to understand the behaviour of the financial controller.
5. What questions do I have about the interaction, what do I
wish I had known?
I wish I had remembered that, when we want to have things well done, we
need to take time to explain exactly what is wanted. There is no simple
communication and this was not the first time a word had a different meaning
in the Portuguese of Portugal and the Portuguese of Angola.
I wish I had remembered from my previous experiences that, due to the
colonial history and cultural values of Angola, a subordinate cannot question
the boss's orders.
© 2009 by cinfo – www.cinfo.ch
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Facilitation sheet
I wish I had remembered that it takes time to build a relationship in which
organization staff and national staff understand one another's meanings. I
wish I had asked the guard for his input on our «garden plans» and explained
the purpose of the «cleaning».
6. Themes

Same words – different meaning

Did he misunderstand me? or did I not express myself clearly?

Control over one's feelings in the face of an obvious misunderstanding

Hierarchy: can local staff question «strange» orders given by the
expatriate boss?
© 2009 by cinfo – www.cinfo.ch
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