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- Tip 1
- Educational background and intellectual dexterity are important commodities in France.
- Tip 2
- French government and industry have traditionally had a closer relationship than has been in evidence in many other industrialised nations and this has resulted in many senior civil servants taking senior roles in industry.
- Tip 3
- Long-term planning has been a central tenet of the French approach for many decades and leads to detailed forward planning by companies.
- Tip 4
- In keeping with the centralist tendencies apparent in France, most major French companies have their HQ in Paris – where most major decisions will be made.
- Tip 5
- The CEO (or PDG) of a French company is usually a highly charismatic leader who guides the general direction of the company in an authoritative manner.
- Tip 6
- French companies tend towards rigid hierarchies with clear upward reporting and decision making lines.
- Tip 7
- Socialising across hierarchical lines is quite unusual.
- Tip 8
- Promotion is gained through a combination of seniority, educational achievement and demonstrated competence.
- Tip 9
- Management style is often directive with instructions being given to subordinates in information style meetings.
- Tip 10
- Little open dissension with the boss will be witnessed in open, formal meetings. Any such disagreements will be aired in pre-meeting lobbying sessions.
- Tip 11
- Peer-group competitiveness can make cross functional project teams difficult to manage.
- Tip 12
- Logic is expected and respected. Any lack of discernible logic could be interpreted as sloppy thinking or lack of intelligence (or both).
- Tip 13
- There is less job-hopping than in some other countries. The French have traditionally been one-company focussed in their professional life.
- Tip 14
- First names are often used amongst peers (especially amongst the younger generation), although surnames are often reverted to in more formal situations or when dealing with superiors.
- Tip 15
- Eloquence is an important attribute and French managers will often try to dominate people through the force of their rhetoric.
- Tip 16
- It is important that any written communication is produced in a grammatically correct format.
- Tip 17
- Humour is based on wit and the intelligent use of satire – neither of which translate very well. The French are less likely to use humour in very serious situations in business than some other nationalities.
- Tip 18
- A strong separation is made between business life and private life and between business time and family time.
- Tip 19
- Business lunches can be long and not necessarily for the discussion of business. They are more a relationship building occasion than a place to discuss the finer points of a contract.
- Tip 20
- Punctuality is variable – possibly better in Paris than in the provinces.
- An extract from http://www.worldbusinessculture.com
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