A light and fun approach on inter-cultural relations.

3. Stereotypes & Clichés Clichés about ‘USA’ Clichés about ‘France’

7. Views from managers If you make a mistake, you're proud to admit it If you make a mistake, you will admit to it ! Seniority is by merit and achievement Seniority is by age and ascribed. People are superficially relaxed but the boss is the boss There's a clear hierarchy - people even seem to be over-supervised There's little job security. People are hired and fired with no reason or argument within 15 days It's difficult to get rid of everyone ! When a decision is taken, there is a 'steam roller' effect and no argument Decisions are rarely without discussion and argument People don't look left or right, they go straight ahead with their specific job People like to know what everyone else is doing People work individually to do the job they are paid for without questioning anything People work in the middle of everyone else Each person is a specialist in his/her own fields People like to know a little bit of everything French impression of the American American impression of the French

8. Views from managers Americans always have a ‘Corporate identity’ French tend to be less corporate Work is seen as rational and systematic - you work towards achieving an objective Business is a human affair including intuition and emotion Direct workers are under-or not qualified tend to accept any jobs or conditions Direct workers are often well-qualified and participate more in the company Meetings are kept to a minimum Meetings are less controlled .. But the system is quickly becoming more Americanized Reporting techniques are very technical and procedure-like Too much paperwork … Less administratives headaches to cope with the tax declaration Do you really want to know how long a French declaration tax is ? French impression of the American American impression of the French

9. Body language An American will put his bread on his plate and will put his hands on his thighs French will put his bread on the table and put his hands on the table Enjoy a meal with him An American will look as if he was afraid of bad breath, stay as far as possible and give a big slap on the back of the other person French like the Spanish with his abrazo, will actually TOUCH the body of the other person and act as if he was enjoying it Make him hug An American will form a circle joining histhumb and index (in French, this gesture means : "zero") French will put his thumb upright Make him say "everything is OK An American will talk about anything French will try to avoid any eye contact Put him in an elevator An American will move his arms and take-up a lot of space French will be much stiffer Make him walk An American will start with the little finger and end with the thumb French will start with the thumb and end with the little finger Make him count 1,2,3,4,...