Photo attribution to andercismo
Imagine working abroad for the first time, armed with all the information you need to successfully acclimate yourself to the work environment, social scene and overall cultural customs? That is where Goinglobal steps in. Goinglobal is committed to providing you with an arsenal of career information and resources to ease the transition abroad and help you be prepared before you leave. We have career country guides for over 30 countries, written by in-country researchers, that help you as a professional, regardless of whether you are a novice or seasoned expat.
Every week, we will feature an insight from one of our global career guides to help you achieve your dream of working internationally.
Today’s tip: A deeper look into the management structure in France
Eiffel Tower in Paris - Courtesy of olga_LG
Starting a new job, regardless of its geographic location, is always an interesting challenge. This is magnified as you cross foreign borders and enter into the culture of an international company. It is key to understand the differences between your home’s business culture and the country you are moving to or residing in. That will ultimately help you grow in your career at a quicker pace. Today, we highlight elements of the management structure in France, the work ethic of the French and the overall business culture of French companies.
The PDG (President Directeur General) is equivalent to the CEO, and most senior level executives are “directeurs”. Senior management tends towards a directive, rather than a collaborative style, with the PDG determining overall direction, which is disseminated down the line for implementation by junior management.
The French, by nature, tend to shy away from risk. Privacy and individual accomplishment of one’s tasks are critical in French business culture; workers provide what their bosses expect of them, and plans, methods and reports can be time-consuming, thorough and complicated efforts toward perfection. All of this occurs in a formal and sometimes very rigid hierarchical structure, which means that time, deadlines and efficiency, while important, are secondary to attention to detail, rigorous logic and perfection of form.
Each individual on a French team prefers to have a very specific task; the team is an organization of different individuals with different objectives and roles, all carefully defined. Thus, French bosses are expected to provide guidance and information and
to make decisions, while subordinates provide detailed information and follow the decisions made by the superiors. Traditionally, French companies have followed a somewhat paternalistic or ‘family’ model, with senior managers making key decisions without necessarily communicating relevant information to subordinates. All in all, communicating information may be a challenge in French organizations and this can prove frustrating to a foreigner who is attempting to understand how and why decisions are made.
Most senior managers were educated at the elite schools (or Grandes Ecoles) of France. This may be the case even in so-called American or multinational corporations based in France. Intellectualism is something desired in French managers; one’s ability
to master complex concepts and provide and understand detailed analysis is respected far greater than one’s interpersonal skills and ability to motivate staff and build effective teams. Complimenting and rewarding employees publicly is not common That being said, managers often have strong relationships with their employees, feel responsible for them and will back them in a dispute.
This is just a sample of what you’ll find in the complete French country guide. To learn more about living and working France or any other country in the European Union, check out www.goinglobal.com.
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