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Rules of the game
Customs vary all over the world and France is no exception
According to Emilia Sofia, director of the Paris office of Communicaid which specialises in intercultural training, the key to making win-win business relationships in France is ‘the acceptance of differences’. But in order to make this possible, it is important to understand the sometimes difficult-to-navigate nuances of local business culture. There are many written and unwritten etiquette rules in France and the possibilities for committing a faux pas are limitless. However, a few simple guidelines should help to avoid major pitfalls.
A few formalities
First and foremost, a key aspect of business in France is formality. Whether it concerns language, dress code or general behaviour, conservatism is the safest road to harmonious working relations. When greeting new acquaintances the use of Monsieur and Madame is recommended, but never Mademoiselle which, in a professional situation, tends to be considered disrespectful, patronising or sexist. Hand gestures that involve tapping or snapping (of fingers) should be avoided at all costs. How you dress will obviously depend on the job that you do, but it is always better to be overdressed than too casual. In most offices in France, dress-down-Fridays are a relatively unexplored phenomenon and jeans are completely unacceptable in a majority of companies.
Mind your language
As anyone who has lived in France for some time may know, the French language is not only a means of communication but a source of national pride; the zealous protection of the linguistic heritage by the Academie Française is an ever-present reminder of the attachment the French have to their language. In business, it is not usually expected that discussions will be conducted in French; good English is generally preferred over bad French. However, making an effort with a few basic phrases will be greatly appreciated and apologising for your lack of knowledge shows your consideration for the national culture.
A meeting of minds
One of the major differences, cited by both American and British citizens when doing business in France, is how meetings are conducted. The primary objective of most meetings here is not generally to reach a decision but to allow participants to exchange information. The agenda (when there is one) is not set in stone; straying off the topic, interruptions and even three parallel conversations may be disconcerting but they are characteristic of doing business in France. Raised voices are another distinctive and potentially unnerving feature of negotiations and the further south you travel, the louder things can get. Emilia Sofia explains that meetings also tend to start around 15 minutes later than the scheduled start, in order to wait for those who arrive late (this is customarily known as the quart d’heure marseillais or parisien or ‘wherever’). She adds that this waiting time can be used to participate in general conversation and thus build up relationships.
Hot topics
What are appropriate topics of conversation in the French workplace or in meetings? Firstly it is important to be aware that the distinction between private and professional is very important. Talking about family and home life is unusual until quite far on in a relationship. Neutral subjects such as current affairs or culture (more specifically French culture) are the safest. Avoid expressing opinions unless they can be backed up with hard facts and are unlikely to be contentious. The French tend to put great value on knowledge so if you know little about a topic then stick to asking polite questions rather than offering your point of view.
The female touch
As in many countries, women may have a few more hurdles to face in business than men. The importance of a person’s perceived status, regardless of their competence, plays its part in how women are treated in the French workplace. Younger women often find that they are not held in such high esteem as male counterparts of the same age. In meetings and debates make sure your voice is heard (above the louder male voices). Once your capabilities have been proved then being respected by all will be the rule and not the exception.
Good timings
France is famed for its 35-hour working week. Introduced in the year 2000, ‘les trente cinq heures’ aimed to boost worker productivity and reduce unemployment through a better division of labour. In recent years, working hours have become more flexible, especially for cadres (management), however in most companies the reduced workweek still applies. In and around Paris, the average workday starts around 9am and finishes between 6pm and 7pm; in the south workers tend to start and finish work around half an hour earlier than their northern counterparts.
However north and south alike, it is inadvisable to call people before 9.30am and after 5.30pm. The same applies for the lunch hour in France, which in reality is often closer to a lunch ‘two-hours’, so as most people already know it is best to avoid contacting people between 12pm and 2pm. Another particularity is the month of August, which means just one thing for the French: les vacances. Offices across the country go into hibernation while employees pack up their suitcases for four-week holidays.
Although it may be a little difficult to acclimatise to the French work routine at first, once you do, you may find it suits you more than you would have expected.
A full version of this article appeared in the August edition of theFrenchPaper