Be adaptable and able to deal with uncertainty

A Singaporean manager, who has worked in a multinational environment for more than ten years, and have met expatriate managers from many countries, told me that the many of the expatriates hold this impression of Singaporean managers:

- work hard and can work very well, if given clear instructions
- not able to deal with uncertainty
- not able to adapt to the environment in other countries
- not articulate

There are exceptions, but this seemed to be the general impression of most Singaporean managers.

He observed that this is due to the education system in Singapore. He sent his children to an international school in Singapore, after getting permission from the Minister for Education, and was able to see the difference in the teaching methods of the international and the local schools.