julia90
Passione Mediterranea
- Messages
- 1,152
- Reaction score
- 66
- Points
- 48
- Location
- Florence-Lucca
- Ethnic group
- Tuscan-Italian-(European)
- mtDNA haplogroup
- H5b
taken from: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4205552/National-Cultural-Profiles.html
FINLAND
Introduction: Approximately 70 per cent of Finnish land is covered by forest and another 10 per cent is water. Finland is famous for her 188,000 lakes – what is less well-known is that her territory also counts a total of 179,584 islands.
Values and beliefs: Finns are warm-hearted people, but they have a desire for solitude. They love freedom, but they curtail their own liberty with early closing of shops, limited access to alcohol, prohibiting baths after 10pm and taxing themselves to death. They are eager to internationalise but pretend they can’t learn languages. They make fine companions, but love to brood alone by a lake shore. They love their country, but seldom speak well of it.
Cultural black holes: The Finnish Cultural Black Hole is one of ultra-taciturnity, where opinions are strongly held, but often unvoiced.
Body language: Body language among Finnish males is generally minimal or zero. Finnish men express contentment or disappointment with a poker face. Women are much more expressive.
Manners and taboos: Finnish manners in general are characterised by reserve, reticence and modesty. The sauna is a place where they relax and become more talkative.
Self image: Finns believe they are the most honest of peoples, especially where meeting their financial commitments is concerned. EU statistics support this view, a recent survey indicated that Finnish companies normally pay their bills in 23 days. Italians, at the other end of the scale, take 90 days.
Gender issues: Finnish women are much more outgoing and approachable than the men and often command three or four languages. Their position in society and business is well-respected and superior to that of women in most other cultures.
How to empathise with them: Your best starting point is to get it crystal clear in your mind that a Finn is a formidable person. They defer politely to your cleverness but, in fact, they usually upstage you. The upstaging is done discreetly.
Your modest Finnish partners, so complimentary of your own attributes, turn out to be highly qualified technocrats with very solid assets. Their office, car and clothes may well be of better quality than yours, their house almost certainly will.
They have ne plus ultra standards of cleanliness, honesty, stamina, workmanship, hygiene, safety and education. In Finland you can drink tap water, doctors know how to cure you if you are ill, buses, trains and aeroplanes leave on time, there are no hurricanes.
FRANCE
Introduction: France is blessed by a good, temperate climate, generous space for agriculture and a fortunate population distribution.
Cultural black holes: The French believe that they are intellectually superior to any other nationality. The length and magnificence of their historical achievements leave the French convinced that they have a mission to teach and to civilise others. Their political, military and economic strengths may no longer predominate as they once did, but they perceive no diminishment or fading of their moral and didactic authority.
Concept of space: French people shake hands more often per day than perhaps any other nationality and when speaking stand slightly closer to each other than do the English.
Listening habits: French people pay full attention only if the speaker is charismatic, imaginative, clearly logical and represents authority.
Body language: Overt in the usual Latin manner. The French are particularly known for their shrugs and pouts.
Leadership style: In France, authority is centred around the chief executive. Top managers, are well-trained, charismatic and extremely autocratic. They often appear to consult with middle managers, technical staff – even workers, but decisions are generally personal and orders are topdown.
Language of management: French managers are clinically direct in their approach and see no advantage in ambiguity or ambivalence. The French language is a crisp, incisive tongue, a kind of verbal dance or gymnastics of the mouth, which presses home its points with an undisguised, logical urgency. The French education system, from childhood, places a premium on articulateness and eloquence of expression. Unlike Japanese, Finnish or British children, French children are rarely discouraged from being talkative. In the French culture loquacity is equated with intelligence and silence does not have a particularly golden sheen. The French language, unquestionably, is the chief weapon wielded by managers in directing, motivating and dominating their staff. Masterful use of language and logic implies, in their understanding, masterful management.
How to empathise with them: Recognize French historical achievement, the riches of their culture and their sense of mission. They consider themselves human, witty and intellectually superior. If you open up to them, they will follow suit, cautiously. Be witty if you can, they respond well to liveliness. To gain acceptance you should behave formally, show respect for the hierarchy and stick to logic at all times. However, you should also show a ‘human’ side and take the opportunity to have a good long talk, though never criticise the French nation or its heroes.
GERMANY
Introduction: Germany is characterized by decentralisation and compartmentalisation. The 16 states (Länder) have considerable autonomy and different lifestyles.
Cultural black holes: The relatively harmless German cultural black hole is national self-trust. This means that a German who meets another German at the other end of the world may place a great deal of trust in him or her, without necessarily checking things.
Communication patterns: The German communication style is frank, open, direct and often loud. Truth comes before diplomacy. Many foreigners are surprised by the directness and honesty of Germans. Arguments are well-thought out, logical and weighty.
Concept of space: Germans need less personal space or independence at work than Scandinavians or Americans, but they enthusiastically protect their rights to what space they have. It should not be reduced, interfered with or invaded by others.
Negotiating characteristics: Germans will arrive at the meeting well-dressed and with a disciplined appearance. You must match this. They will observe hierarchical seating and order of speaking. They compartmentalise their arguments, each member speaking about his/her speciality. They expect your side to do the same. They do not interfere with a colleague’s remarks and generally show good team-work throughout.
Listening habits: Germans have a long attention span when absorbing information and especially like repetition and plenty of background information.
Manners and taboos: The right to privacy, both at home and in one’s office, is paramount. Eccentricity, ostentation, unpunctuality and disobedience are frowned upon.
How to empathise with them: Be frank, truthful and as honest as possible. Respect their bluntness and accept criticism when it is directed towards you. Avoid irony, sarcasm and quick wit. The people of Germany do have a sense of humour, but they do not use it at work. What amuses a German will not get all other cultures laughing too.
GREECE
Introduction: Greece is a mountainous country and comprises a mainland and more than 400 islands, over 150 of which are inhabited.
Values and beliefs: Greek consciousness is keenly aware that the Greek city-state period laid the basis for Western European civilisation and the liberal democracies. Greeks believe strongly in their intellectual powers, intuition and sense of artistry. Self-image is of a cultural, eloquent, sophisticated European, experienced in social and commercial matters.
Concept of space: Greece is a tactile culture. Its distance of comfort is similar to the Italian - hugging and kissing are common.
Communication patterns: Greeks are verbose, theatrical and intense. Greeks believe in their own powers of oratory. They use rational argument like the French, but spice it up with emotive content.
Body language: Eye contact has been measured as the strongest in Europe. Special Greek features are a slight upward nod of the head (meaning “no”) and tilting the head to either side (meaning “yes, of course”).
Behaviour at meetings: Greeks hold many lengthy, argumentative and intense discussions amongst themselves. Non-Greeks will find them extremely loquacious, digressive, often volatile. They respect logic, however, and are skilled at pleasing (and often manipulating) other nationalities. They can display great understanding and charm, often appearing extremely flexible and accommodating. One has, however, to listen carefully as they extract concessions smartly when an opening occurs. They are normally well-dressed, neat and well-composed.
Concept of status: There is great respect for education, qualifications and intellectual prowess on the one hand, wealth and family connections on the other.
Manners and taboos: The multi-active nature of the Greeks means that they are often late for appointments and, when they give interviews, let them run on endlessly, even if someone else is waiting. Elderly people have a lot of authority and are not kept waiting. Greeks are excellent hosts and their hospitality can be embarrassing.
ITALY
Introduction: The long narrow peninsula, which comprises the Italian mainland, is in the shape of a leg, which appears to be kicking a triangle into the Mediterranean Sea. This ‘triangle’ is Sicily, the largest island in the whole of the Mediterranean. Sardinia is another huge Italian island.
Cultural black holes: Italians are culturally driven to loud conversation and persuasion. They are convinced that they can persuade anybody to do anything, as long as they can get them in a face-to-face situation and hold their attention long enough.
Concept of time: Punctuality in Milan means they are up to 20 minutes late, in Rome half an hour and in the south 45 minutes. You will not be able to change this, except in a fixed-hours factory or office environment. You must therefore adapt. Be prepared to wait 15-45 minutes before your Italian counterpart arrives to let you into their office.
Manners and taboos: Italian tolerance is legendary. Machismo is, however, endemic, especially in the south and in Sicily. Questions of personal and family honour assume great importance. Throughout the country, men can be exceedingly jealous if their wives are approached in too casual a manner.
Negotiating characteristics: Faced with obstacles, non-co-operation or lack of movement, the Italian will rapidly re-package the offer or approach the issue from a fresh angle.
Language of management: Melodious, elegant, aesthetic, pliant, and seductive are some of the adjectives that best describe the Italian language, known the world over for its pleasing effect on the ear. These terms indeed reflect the style of Italian managers as they seek to instruct, influence, persuade and perhaps charm their staff to comply with their requirements.
Listening habits: Italians are sympathetic listeners, but are often restless as they ‘think ahead’ of the speaker. They are impatient to join the dialogue that will define the relationship between the two people.
Motivation factors: Confide in them as much as you dare. This includes revealing family details, hopes, aspirations, disappointments and problems, particulars of past life, education, holidays and so on. They will reveal much of their private life to you. Listen sympathetically.
SPAIN
Introduction: Spain is one of Europe’s oldest countries and dominated European politics and Catholicism for centuries. Remember that there are several Spains (Castile, Andalucia, Galicia, Catalonia, the Basques). Make sure you know where people’s allegiances lie.
Working hours: The working day is not an unbroken period of concentrated effort in the sense of the northern European or North American day. Coffee breaks with fellow employees, non-work conversations with colleagues and long meetings that shade into social affairs are all seen by the Spanish as valid parts of the working day.
Concept of time: Spaniards are classically multi-active, not linear-active. That is to say, the more things they can do or handle at the same time, the happier and more fulfilled they feel.
Body language: Spanish body language is among the most overt of all cultures. Flashing eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, extensive use of hands, arms and shoulders are typical. Eye contact is along with the Greek, the strongest in Europe.
Listening habits: Spaniards are not dedicated listeners. They read less than any other people in Europe and pay little attention to the content of presentations. They do, however, watch you carefully and sum you up by observing your physical characteristics, your mannerisms and your willingness to participate in the congenial and jocular socialising which will inevitably follow.
Motivation factors: Socialise as energetically (and as late) as possible. Relationship building in Spain is nearly always associated with eating and drinking.
Manners and taboos: Entry into the EU has obliged business people to align their waking and working hours with the rest of Europe and the siesta tradition is dying fast.
How to empathise: Deference to a Spaniard’s dignity, respect for his station, personality and soul, is the key to his co-operation, alliance and affection.
FINLAND
Introduction: Approximately 70 per cent of Finnish land is covered by forest and another 10 per cent is water. Finland is famous for her 188,000 lakes – what is less well-known is that her territory also counts a total of 179,584 islands.
Values and beliefs: Finns are warm-hearted people, but they have a desire for solitude. They love freedom, but they curtail their own liberty with early closing of shops, limited access to alcohol, prohibiting baths after 10pm and taxing themselves to death. They are eager to internationalise but pretend they can’t learn languages. They make fine companions, but love to brood alone by a lake shore. They love their country, but seldom speak well of it.
Cultural black holes: The Finnish Cultural Black Hole is one of ultra-taciturnity, where opinions are strongly held, but often unvoiced.
Body language: Body language among Finnish males is generally minimal or zero. Finnish men express contentment or disappointment with a poker face. Women are much more expressive.
Manners and taboos: Finnish manners in general are characterised by reserve, reticence and modesty. The sauna is a place where they relax and become more talkative.
Self image: Finns believe they are the most honest of peoples, especially where meeting their financial commitments is concerned. EU statistics support this view, a recent survey indicated that Finnish companies normally pay their bills in 23 days. Italians, at the other end of the scale, take 90 days.
Gender issues: Finnish women are much more outgoing and approachable than the men and often command three or four languages. Their position in society and business is well-respected and superior to that of women in most other cultures.
How to empathise with them: Your best starting point is to get it crystal clear in your mind that a Finn is a formidable person. They defer politely to your cleverness but, in fact, they usually upstage you. The upstaging is done discreetly.
Your modest Finnish partners, so complimentary of your own attributes, turn out to be highly qualified technocrats with very solid assets. Their office, car and clothes may well be of better quality than yours, their house almost certainly will.
They have ne plus ultra standards of cleanliness, honesty, stamina, workmanship, hygiene, safety and education. In Finland you can drink tap water, doctors know how to cure you if you are ill, buses, trains and aeroplanes leave on time, there are no hurricanes.
FRANCE
Introduction: France is blessed by a good, temperate climate, generous space for agriculture and a fortunate population distribution.
Cultural black holes: The French believe that they are intellectually superior to any other nationality. The length and magnificence of their historical achievements leave the French convinced that they have a mission to teach and to civilise others. Their political, military and economic strengths may no longer predominate as they once did, but they perceive no diminishment or fading of their moral and didactic authority.
Concept of space: French people shake hands more often per day than perhaps any other nationality and when speaking stand slightly closer to each other than do the English.
Listening habits: French people pay full attention only if the speaker is charismatic, imaginative, clearly logical and represents authority.
Body language: Overt in the usual Latin manner. The French are particularly known for their shrugs and pouts.
Leadership style: In France, authority is centred around the chief executive. Top managers, are well-trained, charismatic and extremely autocratic. They often appear to consult with middle managers, technical staff – even workers, but decisions are generally personal and orders are topdown.
Language of management: French managers are clinically direct in their approach and see no advantage in ambiguity or ambivalence. The French language is a crisp, incisive tongue, a kind of verbal dance or gymnastics of the mouth, which presses home its points with an undisguised, logical urgency. The French education system, from childhood, places a premium on articulateness and eloquence of expression. Unlike Japanese, Finnish or British children, French children are rarely discouraged from being talkative. In the French culture loquacity is equated with intelligence and silence does not have a particularly golden sheen. The French language, unquestionably, is the chief weapon wielded by managers in directing, motivating and dominating their staff. Masterful use of language and logic implies, in their understanding, masterful management.
How to empathise with them: Recognize French historical achievement, the riches of their culture and their sense of mission. They consider themselves human, witty and intellectually superior. If you open up to them, they will follow suit, cautiously. Be witty if you can, they respond well to liveliness. To gain acceptance you should behave formally, show respect for the hierarchy and stick to logic at all times. However, you should also show a ‘human’ side and take the opportunity to have a good long talk, though never criticise the French nation or its heroes.
GERMANY
Introduction: Germany is characterized by decentralisation and compartmentalisation. The 16 states (Länder) have considerable autonomy and different lifestyles.
Cultural black holes: The relatively harmless German cultural black hole is national self-trust. This means that a German who meets another German at the other end of the world may place a great deal of trust in him or her, without necessarily checking things.
Communication patterns: The German communication style is frank, open, direct and often loud. Truth comes before diplomacy. Many foreigners are surprised by the directness and honesty of Germans. Arguments are well-thought out, logical and weighty.
Concept of space: Germans need less personal space or independence at work than Scandinavians or Americans, but they enthusiastically protect their rights to what space they have. It should not be reduced, interfered with or invaded by others.
Negotiating characteristics: Germans will arrive at the meeting well-dressed and with a disciplined appearance. You must match this. They will observe hierarchical seating and order of speaking. They compartmentalise their arguments, each member speaking about his/her speciality. They expect your side to do the same. They do not interfere with a colleague’s remarks and generally show good team-work throughout.
Listening habits: Germans have a long attention span when absorbing information and especially like repetition and plenty of background information.
Manners and taboos: The right to privacy, both at home and in one’s office, is paramount. Eccentricity, ostentation, unpunctuality and disobedience are frowned upon.
How to empathise with them: Be frank, truthful and as honest as possible. Respect their bluntness and accept criticism when it is directed towards you. Avoid irony, sarcasm and quick wit. The people of Germany do have a sense of humour, but they do not use it at work. What amuses a German will not get all other cultures laughing too.
GREECE
Introduction: Greece is a mountainous country and comprises a mainland and more than 400 islands, over 150 of which are inhabited.
Values and beliefs: Greek consciousness is keenly aware that the Greek city-state period laid the basis for Western European civilisation and the liberal democracies. Greeks believe strongly in their intellectual powers, intuition and sense of artistry. Self-image is of a cultural, eloquent, sophisticated European, experienced in social and commercial matters.
Concept of space: Greece is a tactile culture. Its distance of comfort is similar to the Italian - hugging and kissing are common.
Communication patterns: Greeks are verbose, theatrical and intense. Greeks believe in their own powers of oratory. They use rational argument like the French, but spice it up with emotive content.
Body language: Eye contact has been measured as the strongest in Europe. Special Greek features are a slight upward nod of the head (meaning “no”) and tilting the head to either side (meaning “yes, of course”).
Behaviour at meetings: Greeks hold many lengthy, argumentative and intense discussions amongst themselves. Non-Greeks will find them extremely loquacious, digressive, often volatile. They respect logic, however, and are skilled at pleasing (and often manipulating) other nationalities. They can display great understanding and charm, often appearing extremely flexible and accommodating. One has, however, to listen carefully as they extract concessions smartly when an opening occurs. They are normally well-dressed, neat and well-composed.
Concept of status: There is great respect for education, qualifications and intellectual prowess on the one hand, wealth and family connections on the other.
Manners and taboos: The multi-active nature of the Greeks means that they are often late for appointments and, when they give interviews, let them run on endlessly, even if someone else is waiting. Elderly people have a lot of authority and are not kept waiting. Greeks are excellent hosts and their hospitality can be embarrassing.
ITALY
Introduction: The long narrow peninsula, which comprises the Italian mainland, is in the shape of a leg, which appears to be kicking a triangle into the Mediterranean Sea. This ‘triangle’ is Sicily, the largest island in the whole of the Mediterranean. Sardinia is another huge Italian island.
Cultural black holes: Italians are culturally driven to loud conversation and persuasion. They are convinced that they can persuade anybody to do anything, as long as they can get them in a face-to-face situation and hold their attention long enough.
Concept of time: Punctuality in Milan means they are up to 20 minutes late, in Rome half an hour and in the south 45 minutes. You will not be able to change this, except in a fixed-hours factory or office environment. You must therefore adapt. Be prepared to wait 15-45 minutes before your Italian counterpart arrives to let you into their office.
Manners and taboos: Italian tolerance is legendary. Machismo is, however, endemic, especially in the south and in Sicily. Questions of personal and family honour assume great importance. Throughout the country, men can be exceedingly jealous if their wives are approached in too casual a manner.
Negotiating characteristics: Faced with obstacles, non-co-operation or lack of movement, the Italian will rapidly re-package the offer or approach the issue from a fresh angle.
Language of management: Melodious, elegant, aesthetic, pliant, and seductive are some of the adjectives that best describe the Italian language, known the world over for its pleasing effect on the ear. These terms indeed reflect the style of Italian managers as they seek to instruct, influence, persuade and perhaps charm their staff to comply with their requirements.
Listening habits: Italians are sympathetic listeners, but are often restless as they ‘think ahead’ of the speaker. They are impatient to join the dialogue that will define the relationship between the two people.
Motivation factors: Confide in them as much as you dare. This includes revealing family details, hopes, aspirations, disappointments and problems, particulars of past life, education, holidays and so on. They will reveal much of their private life to you. Listen sympathetically.
SPAIN
Introduction: Spain is one of Europe’s oldest countries and dominated European politics and Catholicism for centuries. Remember that there are several Spains (Castile, Andalucia, Galicia, Catalonia, the Basques). Make sure you know where people’s allegiances lie.
Working hours: The working day is not an unbroken period of concentrated effort in the sense of the northern European or North American day. Coffee breaks with fellow employees, non-work conversations with colleagues and long meetings that shade into social affairs are all seen by the Spanish as valid parts of the working day.
Concept of time: Spaniards are classically multi-active, not linear-active. That is to say, the more things they can do or handle at the same time, the happier and more fulfilled they feel.
Body language: Spanish body language is among the most overt of all cultures. Flashing eyes, exaggerated facial expressions, extensive use of hands, arms and shoulders are typical. Eye contact is along with the Greek, the strongest in Europe.
Listening habits: Spaniards are not dedicated listeners. They read less than any other people in Europe and pay little attention to the content of presentations. They do, however, watch you carefully and sum you up by observing your physical characteristics, your mannerisms and your willingness to participate in the congenial and jocular socialising which will inevitably follow.
Motivation factors: Socialise as energetically (and as late) as possible. Relationship building in Spain is nearly always associated with eating and drinking.
Manners and taboos: Entry into the EU has obliged business people to align their waking and working hours with the rest of Europe and the siesta tradition is dying fast.
How to empathise: Deference to a Spaniard’s dignity, respect for his station, personality and soul, is the key to his co-operation, alliance and affection.
