When French suppliers possess expertise you lack, expect to defer appropriately while also expecting them to honor the trust this deference represents. Experts—professionals, craftsmen, specialists—know what you cannot evaluate. Appropriate deference means trusting their judgment rather than overriding it from mere preference or treating them as servants executing commands.
But experts must earn and maintain this deference through genuine expertise genuinely applied. They must serve your interests, not exploit your trust. The relationship balances your deference with their accountability.
If you deal with French professionals or specialists, give them appropriate room to exercise expertise while holding them accountable for outcomes. If you are the expert, recognize that deference creates responsibility, not just power.
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