The way business is conducted in France is different than the way things are conducted here in the United States. The French are more relaxed. They focus on getting to know each other and appreciate the integrity and honor one possesses. “A French person trusts an individual according to an inner evaluation of the subject’s personality and character.” (Moran, p. 479) Whereas here, in the United States, I have noticed that business is conducted quickly and is executed more so on the promises and deliverables agreed upon. “Time isn’t only valuable when it comes to social events or meetings; it’s also important when it comes to your business activities. American culture is very results-oriented and likes to see companies and employees achieving their goals in a short period of time. Long-term goals, while important, need to be coupled with short-term strategy. The faster you can show results, the more you will impress.” (Garnier, 2017)
The French are not typically overwhelmed by competition, which can be both a good and bad thing. It is great if you’re confident in your work and know you are ahead of the game. However, if you are completely unaware of competition, you may lose out on a great business deal, promotion or lose out on a new client. “When confronted with an individual with a competitive drive, the French may interpret them as being antagonistic, ruthless, and power-hungry.” (Moran, p. 479)
Growing up I have heard many times that the French do not like Americans. However, having been to France and having worked with people in our France office, I do not think that is the case. I believe they just want to know that other people respect their culture. While in France I tried to speak the language and apologized for not knowing it so well. I would also repeat after them when they corrected me. I wanted to show that I was trying and embracing every bit of their culture while I was there. With that, came a sense of appreciation from them. You can tell in their smile and response they were grateful for it.
Moran stated, “the French are so proud of their language that they expect everyone to be able to speak it- visitors not fluent in that language are advised to apologize for lack of the knowledge and to learn a few key phrases and pronounce the words correctly,” (Moran, p. 479) which confirms the reaction of those who acknowledged that I was trying.
In comparing the top French executives to the top American executives, you will notice that the French executives focus more on their personal lives, what they have learned, what is important to them and their influences. The American executives focus more on accolades.
While the French culture is very different and may be deemed as difficult to navigate by an outsider, I find it very beautiful. Having grown up in the U.S., It is refreshing to see a culture who focuses on the influences and growth in life over trying to constantly get ahead.
References:
Garnier, C. 2017, October 15. US Business Etiquette – 6 Tips for Doing Business in the US. Retrieved from https://spark-labs.co/us-business-etiquette-6-tips-for-doing-business-in-the-us/
Moran R., Abramson, N.R., Moran, S. ( 2014). Managing Cultural Differences, Ninth Edition. Roultedge, New York, NY.
Hi,
I really enjoyed your post. As someone who has frequented France many times I agree with what you wrote about the French culture in regards to business. I also think it’s admirable that you tried to speak the language. I think it’s important that as foreigners we try to assimilate as much as possible. One thing that I wanted to add to your discussion was the slight change in French culture due to the growing diversity. There has been an influx of immigrants that are slowly changing the way the French are perceived. For example, in recent years the French have one of the largest Muslim communities in Western Europe (IES, 2019). This has led to a divide in France. Some people believe that we should embrace other cultures and make the typical French culture even more rich. Whereas others believe it is the responsibility of the migrants to assimilate. Because of this it will be interesting to see if the French culture changes or becomes stronger in their individualistic and familiar ways. This is yet another example of how globalization is changing the way we interact with others.
Reference:
IES. (2019). Cultural Atlas. French Culture. Retrieved December 2nd, 2019 from https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/french-culture/core-concepts-df9e8f12-5585-42e6-9110-cce22fc67b47#core-concepts-df9e8f12-5585-42e6-9110-cce22fc67b47.
Hello,
Great post! I enjoyed reading about France culture. I think you covered many exciting parts of the french culture. While doing more research on french culture. I also find it fascinating that the French Culture is very warm and welcoming. “When in France, you should know about how the French people say hello. In Paris, it’s expected for friends to greet each other with a kiss while strangers shake hands. They also kiss when saying goodbye, and it’s not just any kiss either. It’s usually a double kiss on both cheeks” ( Bibard, 2019). This is so different from the U.S culture then what we are used to when we greet someone with a handshake or a hug when you see a family member or someone close to you.
Also, I learned that Paris is the fashion capital of the world. A Visitor should dress well because you would rarely see people dress in sweatpants, gym clothes, etc. Dining ettique is also essential in France, “You should also note that wine glasses are filled only ever halfway and never to the brim. Bread is broken and never cut. Salad is folded using your fork and never cut with a knife or fork. When eating fruits, peel and slice it first. When slicing cheese, do not do it off the point” ( Bilbard, 2019).
Overall, I think you did a great job, and thank you for sharing your personal experience when you visited France. I hope to be fourtunate enough to visit the country someday as well.
Sources:
Bibard, F. (2019, October 27). 10 tips for doing and not do in France as a tourist. Retrieved from https://www.talkinfrench.com/10-tips-france-tourist/.