French culture calibrates praise to genuine achievement. Positive feedback is given for actual accomplishment, not for meeting basic expectations.
This means praise, when given, signifies real recognition—but it also means praise is less frequent than in cultures with more liberal positive feedback. Do not interpret limited praise as dissatisfaction; French calibration means that adequate performance is simply expected and does not require special recognition.
When you do receive praise from French counterparts, recognize that it represents genuine evaluation of genuine achievement. If you give feedback to French colleagues, avoid excessive praise for ordinary performance; maintain the calibration that makes positive feedback meaningful.
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