British culture operates on the assumption that there is a correct route for everything and a correct sequence in which things should happen. Going through proper channels is expected—approaching someone’s superior without speaking to them first, skipping steps to reach a decision faster, or bypassing intermediaries to go straight to the top all create friction that can be hard to undo. Completing each step in the right order matters more than reaching the end point quickly.
The British are generally willing to wait for a process to run its full course, and they expect others to show the same patience. If you need something to happen faster, work within the existing channels to expedite rather than around them. Demonstrating that you respect the established sequence builds trust. Demonstrating that you tried to circumvent it damages trust quickly.
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