There is a general stereotype in America that the French just do not care for Americans. Recently I read an interesting article about the eight biggest differences between American and French work attitudes and habits. The article lists the following (Lebowitz, 2017):
- Many American workers define themselves by their profession; most French workers don’t
- French coworkers don’t share personal information with coworkers right off the bat; Americans open up to new colleagues more quickly
- French workers take longer lunch breaks than American workers
- French workers see confrontation and debate as healthy; American workers generally shy away from conflict
- French workers take more vacation time than American workers
- French workers are more inclined to give direct negative feedback; American workers tend to sugarcoat it
- American workers drink coffee primarily to feel alert; French workers enjoy the taste and experience
- Meetings in France last longer and involve more discussion than meetings in the US
It is said that the French are casual about time and that people are frequently late and few think anything of it (Moral, et.al, 2016, p. 477). On the contrary, mainstream Americans look at time as money. Time is to be used, saved and spent (Moral, et.al, 2016, p. 554). The US is a low context culture while the French culture is high context. Low context cultures are very task oriented and follow rules and standards carefully as opposed to the French that have fewer rules and structure. From a communication standpoint, Americans would explicitly deliver a message whereas the French believe that unspoken communication is implicitly transferred through the exchange (Machlachlan, 2010).
Figure 1
It is also evident through Hofstede’s cultural dimensions that there are clear cultural differences between the two countries (Figure 1). The US scores higher on Individualism and lower on Power Distance. Hofstede states that the French culture is one that accepts some degree of inequality. The US’ combination score between Individualism and Power Distance supports the US standpoint of “liberty and justice for all”, a premise for equal rights for all. The two biggest differences are in Uncertainty Avoidance and Long Term Orientation. In terms of Uncertainty Avoidance, US culture seems to be more open to new ideas and innovations whereas the French require structure and planning and are less open to surprises. Long Term Orientation differences indicate that France is more pragmatic than the US where individuals strive for quick results in the work place. (Hofstede)
So do the French really hate Americans? Or is it simply a question of different strokes for different folks? Sometimes a little bit of adjusting from each side goes a long way to mending cultural difference fences!
References:
Hofstede Insights: https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison/france,the-usa/
Lebowtiz, S. (August 1, 2017). 8 things that drive French people nuts about American offices — and vice versa. Business Insider. Retrieved on 11/10/17 from http://www.businessinsider.com/differences-between-french-american-work-culture-2017-7?r=UK&IR=T
Machlachlan, M. (February 12, 2010). Cross-Cultural Communication Styles: High and Low Context. Communicaid. Retrieved on 11/10/17 from https://www.communicaid.com/cross-cultural-training/blog/high-and-low-context/
Moran, R. T., Abramson, N. R., Moran, (2014). Managing cultural differences. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge.
I enjoyed your post and agree that cultural differences can lead to misunderstandings and stereotypes. One point you made about Americans defining themselves by their profession struck a familiar chord for me. When traveling to Germany several years ago, one of the things I would ask my German cousins was, what type of work do you do? I got a very short answer and the subject usually changed very quickly. I felt a bit insulted that no one wanted to know what I did! It wasn’t until years later that I learned about the difference between the importance we as Americans place on our jobs versus many other countries. It is certainly something to keep in mind when working with others in a global context.
Great post this week!
I lived in Paris, France for a while and can attest to the article’s information you presented as fairly accurate. It is interesting the cultural clashes many people have built up in their minds, and the one’s that actually exist and may be overcome with a little effort.
I found it interesting while living there, many of the French friends I had made that spent time in the US for undergraduate or graduate school had a very “American” awareness of time. They were very unlike the French in that they valued time, theirs and other peoples. When they said seven o’ clock, they meant it. Arrive early or on time, never late, it is inconsiderate. I asked a few of them about this and they all said the same thing. Their views changed while living in the States, they experienced and came to accept the value of time and never let go of it, even upon their return and settling back into French life. I think this is interesting, as I think time is a huge component of conflict among many people who work together if they value it differently. The understanding of both cultural values for the individuals who experienced both impacted them and influenced their own behavior, but they did not set out to change their communities behavior.
Prior to my three visits to Paris, France, so many people would say “the people there are so rude”. We found that there are cultural differences like you mention in your post but for the most part it was one of the most welcoming places we had ever been. The people that waited on us or hotel clerks were very inviting and understanding of our lack of the french language… where that would be a huge issue in any city in america if the table were turned. I think we as americans can be a little hypocritical when it comes to openness and cultural differences.
Nice post and thanks for sharing.
I enjoyed your post and found that there were a number of differences between the US and France that I did not initially realize. The difference that stood out to me is regarding work attitudes and time management. In America, there is this mindset that truly successful people must be willing to sacrifice their free time in order to get the job done. It is common for individuals in an office to constantly claim that they are busy or overworked. In my mind, this is a way to reiterate their value to those around them and to show that their position is necessary to get through all of the work. However, this is often to the detriment of efficiency and one’s home life. In my mind, the ideal employee is able to complete the work allotted to them within the time given. This implies that they can prioritize their activities and that their work/home life is properly balanced. Oddly enough, I felt that the statistic about coffee illustrated this fact. Rather than enjoy coffee and savor it, Americans see it as a means to end regarding feeling alert. In my personal experience, another difference between America and France is their emphasis on food. Not only is the quality of the food in France often better quality, but more time is spent enjoying food socially. I do not necessarily feel that the French hate Americans, although I have heard the stereotype. I think the issue falls more in line with a difference in priorities and some cultural differences regarding work and time.
Great job!