British people share information in layers, and each layer is earned. Early in a working relationship, you will receive surface-level information — what the project is about, who the key contacts are, how things are officially structured. The deeper knowledge — the real dynamics, the history behind decisions, the unspoken rules — comes later, after you have demonstrated that you handle information responsibly.
This process takes time, often longer than people from other cultures expect. Every piece of information shared is an implicit test: if you handle it well, more follows.
If you share it with the wrong person or use it carelessly, access tightens. One mistake with confidential information can permanently change how much people tell you. Be patient, be discreet, and let the information come to you gradually. Pushing for more before trust has been established will slow the process down, not speed it up.
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