In this solo episode, Kevin Hong shares key insights on why Chinese New Year creates so much friction inside international companies — and what strong China leaders do differently.

CNY is not just “seven days off.” Operational work slows down. But relationship work accelerates. That gap is where most HQ misunderstandings start: HQ either keeps pushing (and mistakes responses for consent), or goes completely dark (and signals absence in a relationship-driven moment).

Kevin breaks down three practical insights that most global teams miss: availability is not the same as safety, operations can pause while relationships must stay active, and the right approach is planned, personal outreach — warm, specific, and non-transactional — followed by a prepared re-entry plan when work resumes.

If you lead across China and HQ, manage partners in China, or want to build trust without burning out your team, this episode will give you a clear way to handle CNY without damaging the relationships that actually make the business run.

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If the topics discussed resonate with your own leadership challenges or the conversations happening in your organization - assessing international leaders, aligning global and local teams, building capabilities across regions. You can reach us at LYC Partners to set up a consultation.

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Produced by Bonjour Podcast (Melanie Hong), Leaders in Motion blends storytelling, strategy, and data-driven insight, giving today’s leaders a roadmap to anticipate tomorrow’s challenges and lead with intention.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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15. Chinese New Year in China Teams: Operations, Relationships, and Trust