When working with French colleagues or organizations, understand that actions have correct forms—established, validated ways of doing things that are genuinely proper, not arbitrary preferences. French culture distinguishes between doing something and doing it correctly. An action accomplished through proper procedure possesses legitimacy that the same outcome reached incorrectly lacks.
This means you should invest time understanding the proper way to approach tasks: the correct format for documents, the right sequence for processes, the appropriate channels for communication. Asking “what is the proper way to do this?” signals respect and competence. Assuming that any approach is equally valid if it gets results may frustrate French counterparts who expect adherence to established methods. Legitimacy flows from correct execution; taking shortcuts may achieve outcomes but undermine how those outcomes are perceived.
Comments