Working in Morocco is not all sunshine and rainbows rather it presents "The Ultimate Challenge"
Moroccans are friendly, warm, with good intentions, but being clear and direct is a weakness for Moroccans. They prefer to just say "Maybe", "I don't know", or avoiding communication all together. It feels like the word "No" is uncommon and misplaced in their vocabulary.
With this said, starting a business in a city where people are indirect and unclear at times may result in potential problems. When you receive five different answers for one question, this is a challenge. When you do not speak the language, this is a challenge(a challenge of your own fault if you are not learning the language). When you are being paid by companies and they do not want to pay you on time, this is a challenge. When your services are worth a certain amount and people try to negociate with you, this is a challenge. For example, having a client drive a brand new Mercedes, but they are trying to negociate for a 100DH discount?
Having to wait for everything is challenging, but part of the culture. I am finally getting my business cards after being told they would be finished in three days and then having to figure out ten different ways to nicely ask for them.
A system within a system- this is exactly what I mean. Finding a way to get things accomplished that is outside of their way of functioning. Efficiency is something lacking from the vocabulary so to acheive it you need to create your navigation for the "secret system."
This may sound confusing, but people who live abroad and not in the US(where all resources and opportunities are available to them pretty much all the time) can understand how to navigate through this system. It involves asking questions five or six times, following up more than usual, writing things down that people say, giving deadlines/contracts, and setting up clear boundaries. It is a quite the challenge, but it can also be quite fun at times.
A person who signs themselves up for the challenge can not complain when they are doing it-they just need to work through it....
Moroccans are friendly, warm, with good intentions, but being clear and direct is a weakness for Moroccans. They prefer to just say "Maybe", "I don't know", or avoiding communication all together. It feels like the word "No" is uncommon and misplaced in their vocabulary.
With this said, starting a business in a city where people are indirect and unclear at times may result in potential problems. When you receive five different answers for one question, this is a challenge. When you do not speak the language, this is a challenge(a challenge of your own fault if you are not learning the language). When you are being paid by companies and they do not want to pay you on time, this is a challenge. When your services are worth a certain amount and people try to negociate with you, this is a challenge. For example, having a client drive a brand new Mercedes, but they are trying to negociate for a 100DH discount?
Having to wait for everything is challenging, but part of the culture. I am finally getting my business cards after being told they would be finished in three days and then having to figure out ten different ways to nicely ask for them.
A system within a system- this is exactly what I mean. Finding a way to get things accomplished that is outside of their way of functioning. Efficiency is something lacking from the vocabulary so to acheive it you need to create your navigation for the "secret system."
This may sound confusing, but people who live abroad and not in the US(where all resources and opportunities are available to them pretty much all the time) can understand how to navigate through this system. It involves asking questions five or six times, following up more than usual, writing things down that people say, giving deadlines/contracts, and setting up clear boundaries. It is a quite the challenge, but it can also be quite fun at times.
A person who signs themselves up for the challenge can not complain when they are doing it-they just need to work through it....
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