Cross Cultural Management Guide for Kazakhstan

The cultural insights offered below are for managers who want to learn more about the management style and business culture of Kazakhstan.

It provides some useful information for managers who are relocating to the country for employment as well as those who may have Kazakh employees in their global or multicultural teams.

Topics include:

• Hierarchy
• Leadership style
• Time and scheduling
• Communication style
• Negotiation

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Being a Manager in Kazakhstan

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Management styles in Kazakhstan vary according to the person, industry and geography. You can find many management styles in the country including:

• Hierarchical Management Style: This style is prevalent in government and state-owned organizations, where there is a clear chain of command and top-down decision-making. The power and authority lie at the top of the organization, and decisions are made by senior management.
• Authoritarian Management Style: This style is characterized by a highly centralized decision-making process where the manager makes all decisions, and employees are expected to follow the rules and regulations strictly. This style is common in industries such as manufacturing, construction, and mining.
• Paternalistic Management Style: This style is prevalent in family-owned businesses, where the owner treats the employees like family members and provides them with benefits and support beyond their salary. In return, the employees are expected to be loyal and committed to the organization.
• Participative Management Style: This style is becoming increasingly popular in Kazakhstan, where the manager involves the employees in decision-making and values their input. This approach creates a sense of ownership and accountability among employees and leads to better decision-making.
• Relationship-Oriented Management Style: This style focuses on building relationships and maintaining a positive work environment. Managers who follow this style prioritize employee satisfaction and well-being, which can lead to increased employee motivation and productivity.

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Role of a Manager

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Overall, the management style in Kazakhstan is evolving, with a shift towards more modern and participative approaches. However, traditional hierarchical and authoritarian styles are still prevalent, especially in government and state-owned organizations.

• The most successful managers in Kazakhstan harness that wisdom and empower their employees to contribute.
• In Kazakhstan, as in most egalitarian cultures, positions of authority are earned largely on the basis of individual achievement and people at all levels of the organization, while respecting authority are free to aspire to those positions.
• Business practices may adhere to a more rigid hierarchy than many people from Western countries are comfortable with and you must demonstrate patience and accept that things progress slowly and always seem to take twice as long as anticipated.
• Cultural agility is essential when working in Kazakhstan.
• You need to understand the importance of investing time in developing and cementing relationships with your Kazakh colleagues. 

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Approach to Change

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Kazakhstan has a low tolerance for change and risk.

• Cultural sensitivity is important as while in risk-tolerant environments, failure is perceived as a learning process that encourages confidence in future ventures, failure in Kazakhstan causes a long-term loss of confidence by the individual as well as by others.

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Approach to Time and Priorities

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Kazakhstan is a moderate time culture and traditionally schedules and deadlines are viewed as flexible. However, the expectations of global working have caused the Kazakhs to adopt relatively strict standards of adhering to schedules.

• When working with people from Kazakhstan, it’s advisable to reinforce the importance of the agreed-upon deadlines and how that may affect the rest of the organization.

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Decision Making

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Decisions are reached slowly and patience is the key to successful management.

• This is a hierarchical culture where decisions are reached at the top, often with little input from the people below.
• Tribal loyalties are often more important than reporting relationships and supervisors may confer with someone with whom they feel a bond rather than with someone who has a technical expertise.
• Subordinates are comfortable being dictated to as it is often the only way they have seen business conducted.
• Some younger, more entrepreneurial Kazakhs may find the old ways tiring and time-consuming, especially if they have lived in a foreign country.

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Boss or Team Player?

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Cultural knowledge and understanding of the hierarchical system are essential.

• Successful managers will understand the importance of maintaining their positions of authority.
• Subordinates are comfortable being dictated to as it is often the only way they have seen business conducted.
• Some younger, more entrepreneurial Kazakhs may find the old ways tiring and time-consuming, especially if they have lived in a foreign country.

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Communication and Negotiation Styles

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Kazakhstanis expect a certain amount of small talk before getting down to business.

• You should ask about the well-being of the person you are meeting with and his household.
• Meeting with the head of an organization is fundamental to getting anything accomplished.
• Kazakhstanis place a high value on establishing social relationships during business negotiations.
• Casual and extended discussions over tea are an important part of conducting business.
• You will have to be both patient and firm to negotiate in Kazakhstan as Kazakhs are tough negotiators.
• Your first offer should be realistic while allowing room for negotiation on both sides.
• Negotiations with privatized businesses may proceed more rapidly than those with government agencies.
• Important decisions are reached by the highest-ranking person so it is imperative that you ensure that the decision-maker is part of the negotiation process.
• If not, the process will take even longer than usual.

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