-
French people would appreciate if you try to speak French with
them.
-
“A good posture is considered a sign of breeding in this culture”,
do not put your hands in your pockets, and do not eat chewing gum in public.
-
In general, French people stand close to each other during a
conversation.
-
The way French people are dressed is more formal than in the
United States.
-
Generally, the French take great care to dress fashionably,
whether they are wearing formal or casual attire, and they feel more at ease
with visitors who show the same degree of attention to appearance.
-
The French prefer not to be as conventional or conservative as
their American counterparts. They rather enjoy expressing their individuality
through their clothes at work.
-
Casual dress is growing in popularity, especially in younger
companies.
-
Conversations often deal with spirited debates. It is recommended
to have knowledge in French history and other aspects of the culture.
-
You have to be able to answer questions concerning your own
culture and history.
-
Politic is a current topic during conversations, but do not ask a
French how he voted.
-
Use first name only when invited.
-
Use the “vous” form if you were not asked to use “tu”.
-
French nationals tend to prefer less structure in meetings than
their American or German counterparts.
-
They might spend a lot of time on facts and analysis rather than
objectives and action steps.
-
Meeting can commonly extend beyond the scheduled ending time to
allow sufficient examination of the issues at hand.
-
The French enjoy a lively discussion and are comfortable arguing
and debating issues at great length.
-
In general most business persons will take an hour lunch with
colleagues, for more important lunch meetings, the process can take up to three
hours or longer.
-
Fine cuisine is an integral part of daily life in France and
business is no exception.
-
The meal provides an opportunity for each party to socialize and
get to know each other better. The French prefer to take time to build a
relationship before getting down to business.
-
The main purpose of the meeting may not surface until near the end
of the meal, over dessert.
-
While wide variations exist, generally the workday begins at 9:00
and ends at 5:00 or 6:00. But manager may work later and occasionally on
weekends although they would not make a habit of it.
-
The French make a clear distinction between work life and private
life. Business telephone calls are definitely unwelcome.
-
Traditional French organization tends to be fairly hierarchical
and centralized.
-
The concept of teamwork is still somewhat alien to most French
business persons. The education system encourages individual academic
achievement and competition.
Source
A summary of this information can be found at Executive Planet.
For more information go to:
http://www.executiveplanet.com |
