This document provides an overview of cultural differences between Americans and French. [1] It discusses common stereotypes that each group holds about the other. [2] Key differences are explored in areas like communication style, time orientation, and interpersonal distance. [3] Views from managers in each country are presented on how they perceive the other culture.

1. American & French
Cultural differences
A light and fun approach on inter-cultural relations.
‘If we cannot now end our differences,
at least we can help make the world safe for diversity’ (J.F. Kennedy)

2. What’s inside ?
1. Clichés and stereotypes
2. A psychoanalytical view....
3. Intercultural management
4. Views from managers
5. Body language
6. Famous Quotes
7. Conclusion
8. References
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3. Stereotypes & Clichés
Clichés about ‘France’ Clichés about ‘USA’
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4. Stereotypes
The Americans see the French as ... The French see the Americans as ...
'Liberté, égalité, fraternité‘ E pluribus unum
for "freedom, equality, and In God We Trust
brotherhood"
• arrogant and sure they are always right and
• people who do not work good, moralizing and very religious
• people who don't speak English • de grands enfants (ie, people who are naive
• people who are rude to tourists, and have no, or a too short, history)
anti-American and ungrateful • people who have free access to guns and who
• people who live in a bureaucratic Socialist use them to shoot each other when things go
wrong
system and who are totally dependent on the
State • people who are arch-capitalists and only
• people who do not use soap think about money
• arrogant and conceited people distant and • people who do not understand other nations
difficult to meet and whose press never addresses international
issues :
• people who do not respect religious freedom
• people who do not take criticism
etc...
 For an American it is hard to conceive that a
• french have the reputation of being very
country operating as French can be the fourth
chauvinist ( the word itself comes from a character in a
the fifth world economic power !
XIXth century play, a fellow named Chauvin who was a soldier of
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5. A psychoanalytical view....
• are highly implicit • are highly explicit
• pessimist and negative : value past ; • optimist and positive : value present
good at analysis and criticism and future ; good at action
• contextual : "it depends" • binary : "it is true or false"
• like what is complex • like what is simple
• lying is no big deal • do not lie (it is bad)
• want to be independent • want to be loved
• based on being a member of a group • social identity is based on the individual
• try not to get caught ; signing a contract is • law and contracts must be respected ;
just the beginning everything is in the contract once it is signed
• the contract is strongly associated with the • a contract is not linked to the relationship
relationship • process oriented : everything must be clear
• if the other one wins, it means that I'll lose and documented ; reacts as planned
• BEING : you are judged on what you are • try to get a win-win deal
• value quality of life later and toilet trained much
French are weaned much • DOING : you weaned early and what you do late
Americans are are judged on toilet trained
earlier • value qualityAmerican kids become independent and
Schools help of work
French kids learn the principle of authority. Theirs autonomous. Their mother says : "have fun”
mother says : "be good "..
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6. Intercultural management
French are French seen by American are American seen by
American French
Context HIGHT • disorganized LOW CONTEXT • boring
CONTEXT • unsincere • everything must • disrespectful
• a place must be • not disciplined be clear • not creative
left for adaptation • everything is in
and interpretation the contract
• everything is in
the relationship
Time POLYCHRONIC • not focused MONOCHRONIC • too much into
• schedule • dispersed • time is money details
independent • exactitude is • bureaucratic
• you can be late if essential
you had something
better to do
Interpersonal SMALL BUBBLE • touch you too BIG BUBBLE • arrogant and
• security is being much • avoid physical dominating
Distance
part of a group contact
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7. Views from managers
American impression of the
French
French impression of the American
People like to know a little bit of everything Each person is a specialist in his/her own fields
People work individually to do the job they are
People work in the middle of everyone else paid for without questioning anything
People like to know what everyone else is People don't look left or right, they go straight
doing ahead with their specific job
Decisions are rarely without discussion and When a decision is taken, there is a 'steam
argument roller' effect and no argument
There's little job security. People are hired and
It's difficult to get rid of everyone ! fired with no reason or argument within 15 days
There's a clear hierarchy - people even People are superficially relaxed but the boss is
seem to be over-supervised the boss
Seniority is by age and ascribed. Seniority is by merit and achievement
If you make a mistake, you will admit to it ! If you make a mistake, you're proud to admit it
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8. Views from managers
American impression of the French
French impression of the American
Do you really want to know how long a Less administratives headaches to cope with the
French declaration tax is ? tax declaration
Reporting techniques are very technical and
Too much paperwork … procedure-like
Meetings are less controlled .. But the
system is quickly becoming more
Meetings are kept to a minimum
Americanized
Direct workers are often well-qualified and Direct workers are under-or not qualified tend to
participate more in the company accept any jobs or conditions
Business is a human affair including intuition Work is seen as rational and systematic - you
and emotion work towards achieving an objective
French tend to be less corporate Americans always have a ‘Corporate identity’
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9. Body language
Make him
French will start with the thumb and An American will start with the little
count
end with the little finger finger and end with the thumb
1,2,3,4,...
Make him An American will move his arms and
walk French will be much stiffer take-up a lot of space
Put him in an
elevator French will try to avoid any eye contact An American will talk about anything
Make him say An American will form a circle joining
"everything histhumb and index (in French, this
French will put his thumb upright
is OK gesture means : "zero")
French like the Spanish with his abrazo, An American will look as if he was
will actually TOUCH the body of the afraid of bad breath, stay as far as
other person and act as if he was possible and give a big slap on the back
Make him hug
enjoying it of the other person
An American will put his bread on his
Enjoy a meal French will put his bread on the table
plate and will put his hands on his thighs
with him and put his hands on the table
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10. Famous quotes 
• America is the only nation in history which
• In Paris they simply stared when I spoke to
miraculously has gone directly from barbarism
them in French; I never did succeed in making
to degeneration without the usual interval of
those idiots understand their own language
civilization (Georges Clémenceau)
(Mark Twain)
• When good Americans die, they go to Paris
• The French complain of everything, and
(Oscar Wilde)
always (Bonaparte)
• How it is difficult for Americans even those
• The anti-french quote of the year  "You
of good will to not consider themselves the
know the trouble with the French, they don't
center of the universe! (Simone de Beauvoir)
even have a word for "entrepreneur“
(G.W.Bush)
• What's the quickest way to make a profit? • Nothing will amaze an American. (Jules
Buy a Frenchman for what he's worth and sell Verne)
him for what he thinks he's worth.
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11. Conclusion
• French & American comparisons are just examples amongst many – we can compare
French & Italians or Northern French & Southern French etc …
•There are many factors : social, cultural, ethnics etc… but at the end of the day
we’re all human beings so the best thing is to BE AWARE OF DIFFERENCES,
ACCEPT & WORK WITH THEM.
• And now what do you think ?
“Culture is more often a source of conflict than of synergy. Cultural differences are
a nuisance at best and often a disaster.” (Geert Hofstede)
Or
“The most universal quality is diversity.” (Montaigne)
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12. References
• http://www.understandfrance.org
• http://www.pbaudry.com/ (Pascal Baudry is a Frenchman who lives in
California where he runs an organization that holds seminars on international
management.
• Book ‘Français/Américain, ces différences qui nous rassemblent’. (B.Asselin et
R.Mastron) (but in French)
• http://www.geert-hofstede.com/ (more general)
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