SOUL SEARCHING IN SEOUL1
The experience which Linda Myers’ faced in South Korea, is a cautionary tale for
many expatriates working abroad. Out of huge attraction, when Linda Myers got the
opportunity to become an expatriate and work in a management position, she accepted the
offer. The Seoul based SK telecom, provided her with a good opportunity, in Asia’s fourth
largest economy. Myers had with her huge experiences and credentials of working with US
multinational companies. Within next two years, Myers’ had already felt that, she was unable
to grasp the nature of the problem in the organization. There are certain reasons, for which
Linda Myers faced the harsh situation in her organization. One reason is that, her direct style
or approach clashed with the working styles and techniques of the polite and formal
colleagues. Myers also had to face a lot of difficulties, as she and SK Telecom, had
completely divergent views, on her role in the company and as an outsider, she became
frustrated, demoralized and exhausted.
Myers of course brought amazing qualities and credentials to her new organization.
She had experiences in working as a consultant in multinational companies like ExxonMobil
and Hewlett-Packard. Then also, since arriving in Seoul she was thinking whether she has
committed a mistake or not. This was not a total surprise. To work as an expatriate, that also
in a foreign organization, she could not respond effectively due to certain reasons. She also
required to, know the Korean business culture in a proper manner. Otherwise only a
superficial knowledge and fast and direct implications did not help Myers in coping up with
the office environment of South Korea (Haslberger, Brewster & Hippler 2013). The
implications shows that the way Myers wanted to impose and implicate her knowledge to the
subordinates, maybe always was not perfect and even sometimes landed her in trouble.
Ultimately it can be said that, according to Myers herself, the particular years taught her to
question her own actions and assumptions. She also realized that her leadership skills, had
been erstwhile shaped by a different culture and in different country.

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Soul Searching in Seoul

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