New ReviewMany of France's blue-chip companies—familiar entities such as Danone, Lancôme, and Total—have global recognition. French companies have gone through consolidations, resulting in companies that rank as global leaders in their industries....

New ReviewLearn key tips for conducting successful meetings in France. The French respect authentic, professional presentations; they don’t appreciate hard sells or aggressive, high-pressure tactics. They also aren’t fans of showy displays or...

New ReviewPhysical greetings are a critical aspect of communications. Upon starting and finishing a meeting with another company, the French shake hands with everyone. Learn more about the most appropriate type of handshake and eye contact....

New ReviewFrench is the official language of commerce in France, but English words are permeating business and social conversations. Generational and industry differences impact English usage. Additionally, many young French are also likely to...

New ReviewWomen have a long history of working in France. While a few women have made it to the highest levels of business and government, France still lags behind many other European countries when it comes to the advancement of women in the...

New ReviewOverall, the French tend to be risk-averse and inflexible. The many layers of middle management tend to make French companies cautious and resistant to change. Explore how businesses have traditionally been cautious in decision-making;...

New ReviewDeveloping trust is important in any business scenario, but the French are particularly slow to trust others, both in business transactions and in social situations. Learn how the country's rural culture has influenced this preference to...

New ReviewIn traditional French firms, managers protect the stiff hierarchies and expect respect and deference within their teams in the workplace. Learn how historical attitudes toward power continue to influence business and government...

New ReviewCurious about local management practices in France? Learn more about what's expected of foreign managers. Understand the importance of French culture and how it impacts local management practices, including projects and employees. Review...

New ReviewThe typical French company is run from the top down. Curious about the French term cadre, which encompasses a broad array of management positions? Learn more about the typical titles and roles of senior executive management as well as...

New ReviewYou probably already know that connections make a big difference when it comes to success in business. But did you know that a wide range of commercial and government agencies can help provide introductions to French professionals and...

New ReviewFrench managers negotiate a delicate balance between their wish to elude bureaucracy and their need to work with structure. Learn how managers combine an attention to detail with a uniquely French laissez-faire approach. Review how...

New ReviewThe French workforce is highly educated, with nearly 70 percent of the labor force employed in the services sector. The 35-hour workweek has been key in helping more French workers remain employed as well as ensuring that cultural values...

New ReviewNot all cultures view power from the same perspective. In Sweden, Norway, and Israel, for example, respect for equality is a warranty of freedom. Both managers and subordinates have carte blanche to speak their minds. People in these...

New ReviewGlobalization has increased our interactions and communications with colleagues around the world. It’s tempting to think that just because we have access to phones and teleconferencing platforms, communications are the same everywhere....

New ReviewOne important nonverbal cultural cue is physical proximity to others. For instance, how close do you stand to others? What is your comfort zone? Standing distances shrink and expand across cultures. Learn how people might mark their...

New ReviewEye contact is an important form of nonverbal communication. For example, in some cultures, direct eye contact is appreciated, while in other cultures, this type of gaze is disrespectful. Explore how people in different cultures and...

New ReviewIn most cultures, nonverbal behavior can be as impactful as spoken words. How we gesture, twitch, and scrunch up our face represents a guide to our emotions. Being able to suitably read—and broadcast—body language can significantly up...

New ReviewPower distance and how local cultures view hierarchy are very important. Curious about the meaning of power distance? Power distance refers to how openly a society or culture accepts or does not accept differences between people. Explore...

New ReviewWhere does a culture begin and end? The answer is not always clear-cut. Culture is a complex concept. Some cultures fall within geographic boundaries, while others overlap. In addition to national culture, there are cultures based on...

New ReviewThere are a number of factors that constitute a culture—manners, mind-set, rituals, laws, ideas, and language, to name a few. External factors that also comprise a culture include religious beliefs, arts, customs, beliefs, ceremonies,...

New ReviewIt’s true—we naturally view behavior through our own cultural shade. We share common values with members in our own culture, and our values often differ from those of our colleagues and counterparts around the world. Each of us is raised...

New ReviewCulture certainly shapes our perspective. To accept cultural differences, we often employ generalizations to help us understand aspects of a culture. However, cultures and values are not static entities. Gain insight into how cultures...

New ReviewMany people hear about culture and immediately think about protocol—a list of do’s and don’ts by country. But understanding culture is so much more than learning about proper gestures and acceptable etiquette. One must consider people’s...