Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling: Career Strategies for Asians
The popular media often portrays Asian Americans as highly educatedand successful individuals—the "Model Minority."\ As the ethnic minority with the largest percentage of college graduates, many Asian Americans do enter the professional workforce. However, many of them seem to stall in their careers and never make it to the corner offices.\ Leading executive coach Jane Hyun explores how traditional Asian values can be at odds with Western corporate culture. By using anecdotes, case studies,...
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Career coach Hyun helps Asian Americans understand the effects of their cultural values on career advancement in the competitive corporate environment. Though they are the fastest-growing population in the US and comprise the largest college graduate population in the country, Asians lag in the workplace, often overlooked for promotions and rarely selected for the special projects and teams that lead to increased exposure among senior management. Hyun attributes the situation to deep-seated attitudes and behaviors that can cause misunderstandings in a Western business setting, and offers practical ideas and case studies to help change things. She includes stories of people from a variety of Asian ethnicities. Hyun notes that the information may also help non-Asian managers better understand a diverse work force. Annotation ©2005 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR Korea Times “An important book for anyone hoping the make that career move…and realize his full professional potential.”
IntroductionxviiPart IUnderstanding Asian Cultural Influence and Its ImpactChapter 1Your Asian American Roots and You3Chapter 2"But I Didn't Mean It That Way!": How Cultural Values Can Help or Hinder You at Work27How Asian Values Affect Individual Behavior and Workplace Interactions27"Technical but Not Management Material": Dispelling Stereotypes and Inaccurate Perceptions46Chapter 3The Latest Trends in Corporate Diversity Practices55Part IICareer Choices and Getting in the DoorChapter 4Doctor? Lawyer? Or Inner-City Teacher?: How Cultural Influences Impact Your Career Choices73Chapter 5To Thine Own Self Be True: Understanding Yourself, Your Vision, and How to Break Your Bamboo Ceiling91Understanding Yourself93The Seven Stories Exercise93Understanding Your Asian Identity103Asian Identity Exercise: How Assimilated/Acculturated Are You?103Work-Related Values and Motivators Exercise107The Trusted Advisor Assessment108Authority and Hierarchy Exercise: A View of Your Relationships with Bosses, Peers, and Subordinates114Understanding Your Vision116The Forty-Year Vision117Understanding How to Break Your Bamboo Ceiling132Identifying Your Bamboo Ceiling132The Career Mobility Checklist134Chapter 6Perfect for the Part: Mastering the Face-to-Face Job Interview141Chapter 7Moving Past the Hors d'Oeuvres Table: Finessing the Art of Networking172Part IIIGetting Ahead on the JobChapter 8On-the-Job Mobility Strategies187Learning to Toot Your Own Horn: Navigating in Corporate America187Superior Mentoring Strategies213Staying in the Succession Planning Pipeline225Getting Your Voice Heard: Saying No...and Pushing Back with Diplomacy228Chapter 9Extending Your Reach: Professional Associations and Affinity Networking Groups240Chapter 10Getting and Maintaining Your Worth: Show Me the Money...and a Promotion!249"How Am I Doing?": Acing Performance Management Discussions249Negotiating Your Compensation and Severance Package252Epilogue: Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling263A Conversation with Andrea Jung, Chair and CEO of Avon Products273Appendix ASummary of Challenges to Management277Appendix BAsian Pacific American Organizations281Bibliography307Index311
\ Susan RoAne"A well-written, easy to read and thorough compendium for every Asian who wants to move up the ladder."\ \ \ \ \ Paul Tokunaga"[This] is the book Asian Americans in the workplace have needed for decades."\ \ \ Dennis Ling"Should be required reading for both Asian and non-Asian readers."\ \ \ \ \ Kate Wendleton"Jane shows how cultural values can adversely impact workplace behavior, and provides tips for overcoming those differences."\ \ \ \ \ Patrice A. Hall"This much-needed work ... will be hugely valuable to anyone who’s interested in achieving cultural fluency in the workplace."\ \ \ \ \ J.D. Hokoyama"Jane Hyun confronts the dilemma of how to be an Asian in America...a truly valuable and insightful resource."\ \ \ \ \ Philip Berry"Powerful ... Hyun presents valuable strategic and tactical next steps that Asian professionals can implement to advance their careers."\ \ \ \ \ Luke Visconti"A clear, straightforward guide to easing cultural barriers between Asian Americans and their non-Asian counterparts."\ \ \ \ \ Jim Loehr"Knowing yourself and the values that you hold are integral steps to developing leadership competencies... A must read ."\ \ \ \ \ Diane Yu"Provocative, thoughtful, and engaging ... offers insights and strategies for all persons of Asian descent striving for career advancement and success."\ \ \ \ \ Doctor"I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is committed to diversity and inclusion."\ \ \ \ \ Kyung H. Yoon"Read this book and find out how best to manage your career in today’s multicultural workplace."\ \ \ \ \ David Chu"(Empowers) individuals to take charge of their careers and gives them the tools to navigate the corporate structure."\ \ \ \ \ Jino Ahn"Inspiring and engaging! Every Asian professional and student, (and) anyone who works with them, should read this book."\ \ \ \ \ Vincent Yee"Finally! A book that addresses the truth and shatters so many myths and misconceptions about Asian Americans in the workplace."\ \ \ \ \ David Thomas"Addresses an issue that most of corporate America and diversity experts have been silent about... [an] important work."\ \ \ \ \ Eric Liu"Read it, and find clarity about who you are and what you want to become."\ \ \ \ \ Jade Magazine"[Shows] where the gaps between the Asian American and business perspectives are, and how we can bridge these differences."\ \ \ \ \ Phoebe Eng"(Gives) a set of maps to define, measure and envision professional lives... Hyun reveals truths that often remain unspoken."\ \ \ \ \ BooklistHyun’s help is multiple... Enlightening—and very necessary.\ \ \ \ \ Asian Fortune"Filling a void where generic career guides leave off, this is a crucial handbook for anyone in today’s multicultural workplace."\ \ \ \ \ Jade magazine“[Shows] where the gaps between the Asian American and business perspectives are, and how we can bridge these differences.”\ \ \ \ \ Korea Times"An important book for anyone hoping the make that career move…and realize his full professional potential."\ \
