I’m on vacation in Indonesia right now, but couldn’t help writing about an article I saw in the International Herald Tribune "How’s Your Mandarin? Regulators Want to Know."
Since 2005, top executives at securities firms in China are required to pass written and oral exams in Mandarin. An expert estimates that a non-native 
would need to study Mandarin full time for five years to pass the exam. Thus, fewer than 10 foreigners have passed since the requirement was set.
Tough rules, but that’s the price to play, and I have to tip my hat off to the Chinese. It takes chutzpah to require everyone to meet such a high standard, but I’m sure those who speak Mandarin are more welcomed into the inner circles of the business community there. Plus, it must make for more meaningful interactions because everyone is on the same page.
One quote from the article: "'An executive can probably get by without speaking Mandarin, but the one who does will have a much better chance of succeeding...It makes you seem more intelligent, more involved, than the foreigner who just sits there and smiles.'"
So someone who passes the test starts with a big leg up on someone who doesn't. It's because people want to do business with those they know, like and trust. Speaking the same language, whether literally or metaphorically goes a long way. It's about building rapport. You may still get help regardless, but you're more likely to get someone's best efforts if you've put forth yours by connecting in a way that's meaningful to them.
As a New Yorker, I can talk a mile minute and walk just about that fast, but when I’m visiting my in-laws in Michigan, I know I have to slow down. And here in Asia, I’ve noticed that the Balinese are very gentle and soft-spoken, so I’ve been using my inside voice, ratcheted down a few decibels, everywhere I go, and asking for things with a smile.
Still, I know I could probably score a few more brownie points -- and perhaps even some free brownies -- by going out on a limb to say a few words in Indonesian.
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