French culture assumes that competence develops through structured training under qualified guidance—what they call formation. Mastery is transmitted through proper development programs, not discovered through individual effort alone. This shapes how credentials and expertise are viewed. French professionals expect that qualified practitioners have undergone recognized formation and hold credentials certifying that formation.
When establishing your credibility, emphasize formal training and qualifications. When assessing French counterparts, understand that their credentials signal specific formation. When building teams or developing capabilities, expect French preference for structured training programs with qualified instructors. Self-taught expertise may be viewed with skepticism unless it’s supplemented by recognized credentials. The French trust formation because they trust the systems that provide it.
Comments