| The incident happened during the LeWeb event, | | | | Why? |
| which took place December 9-10th in Paris. Loic | | | | - The American health supplement business is |
| LeMeur, a Frenchman who moved to Silicone | | | | booming and offers a wide choice |
| Valley to set up his company, organizes LeWeb. | | | | - Most of these health supplements are not for |
| During the "friendly" wrap up session, there were | | | | sale in France and this is not a common practice |
| a few comments about whether Silicone Valley | | | | Why? |
| entrepreneurs were better than French | | | | - The French put a priority on getting their life |
| entrepreneurs were. Loic LeMeur and Michael | | | | sustaining nutrition from fresh food |
| Arrington, two well-known personalities, voiced | | | | - Americans put a priority on eating quickly |
| differing points of views. | | | | Now, we seem to have arrived near the crux of |
| This debate sparked a reaction in the European | | | | the debate. This is what it was about: |
| audience at this live event. And the comments | | | | - French entrepreneurs cannot be as productive |
| continued after the event. | | | | as Silicone Valley entrepreneurs because they |
| - US and European Entrepreneurs - More Than an | | | | take longer lunches. |
| Ocean Divides Them | | | | ... Let's assume standardized 2-hour lunch break |
| I initially did not respond to this incident because I | | | | are an exaggeration made in the heat of the |
| did not attend. In addition, I find the French | | | | debate. |
| blogosphere too reactive and prefer to let the | | | | Make Sure You Have The Right Question |
| dust settle. | | | | As usual, insights into these cultural differences |
| And quite frankly, when I briefly scanned the | | | | shed light. |
| follow-up blog posts by LeMeur and Arrington | | | | But what does this really tell you? |
| after the event, I actually wondered if they were | | | | The problem is that the questions stopped too |
| prolonging the publicity. A common enough | | | | soon here in this article. You need to dig deeper |
| practice online. | | | | and ask more questions: |
| But even if they were, the cross-cultural | | | | - Why? |
| communication tremor that went through the | | | | - So What? |
| European community present was authentic. This | | | | - ... and change the angle slightly and continue |
| made me realize that others would probably | | | | asking questions until you get the whole picture. |
| appreciate hearing my thoughts on this | | | | In order to get an answer to this question you |
| cross-cultural communication aspect of this | | | | need to review many more questions. |
| incident. | | | | What is holding French entrepreneurs back from |
| Cultural Generalizations Get You Into Trouble | | | | increased productivity? |
| First, this incident is an example of the bad use of | | | | What is holding American entrepreneurs back |
| cultural generalizations. | | | | from increased productivity? |
| If you have read my blog before you will | | | | Is one of them physically more productive? |
| probably know that I do not think that learning | | | | Is there any truth in this? |
| cultural generalizations is an effective way to | | | | What are the factors? |
| acquire cross-cultural skills. | | | | Well if you were to do a survey, you would |
| This might have had value 50 years ago, before | | | | probably find that the entrepreneurs themselves |
| globalization. These generalization are old world | | | | will come up with similar reasons. People are the |
| stereotypes. Cultures have become more | | | | same human beings. |
| complex in today's world. This is why I have | | | | But they will do things differently. Different |
| often found them very misleading in the field. | | | | cultures go about doing things differently. |
| - Do you really understand the whole context | | | | Here, in this case, the French entrepreneurs would |
| behind these generalization? | | | | probably add in taxes and labour laws. |
| - And do you have any idea whether they are still | | | | To balance the picture a bit more, let me add |
| valid today, and in your particular case? | | | | some of the differences you would probably dig |
| In addition, reading up on cultural generalizations to | | | | up: |
| improve your skills probably only worked for | | | | - It is culturally acceptable for Americans to state |
| some cultural behavioral traits. Read more on the | | | | they are in business to make money |
| High/Low Uncertainty Avoidance behavioral scale. | | | | - It is not culturally acceptable for the French to |
| I do not believe that cultural generalizations help | | | | state they are in business to make money, in |
| your international business. | | | | fact, the use of the word "money" is culturally |
| This LeWeb incident is an example why. | | | | coded in France. The French just cannot refer to |
| And cultural generalizations can even alienate you, | | | | wanting, making or having money in the same |
| or make you look a fool. | | | | way as an American. |
| This is what probably happened to the European | | | | - French entrepreneurs have more administrative |
| audience here. | | | | paperwork to go through than American |
| Setting The Generalizations Straight | | | | entrepreneurs |
| Yes, French people do take two-hour lunch | | | | - French entrepreneurs have more constraints |
| breaks. | | | | with employees than American entrepreneurs |
| But this is an exception. | | | | Given the choice, would I have started my |
| In the 20 years I have worked in France, I can | | | | company in the US instead of France? Yes. Why? |
| still count them on my fingers. | | | | - Better service and attitude from the people I |
| - Christmas dinners and with the very large | | | | need service from |
| account clients after a deal was signed. | | | | - French mandatory social taxes are too high - a |
| Problems With This Generalization | | | | good social security system comes with a price |
| You have a problem if you think that: | | | | - Combination of low service levels and too much |
| - 2-hour lunch breaks are an everyday event in | | | | paperwork slows business down too much |
| business in France. They are an exception. And a | | | | Comparing Apples To Oranges |
| sign of courtesy. They are a cultural obligation to | | | | There is another issue here with this cultural |
| show respect to high profile visitors. It falls into | | | | generalization. |
| the same category as handshakes in Switzerland | | | | The cultural comparison of time spent at lunch, |
| and even smiling is in North America. | | | | does not give you enough information to |
| - Californians are physically capable of providing | | | | determine who is more productive. |
| more work than others provide. Please let me | | | | The long lunches? Well I am sure that the Silicone |
| know if there is some super race here on earth. | | | | Valley entrepreneurs "lose" time elsewhere. |
| - French entrepreneurs work less than | | | | - It might not be at lunchtime. |
| entrepreneurs in other countries do. As a French | | | | - It might be with doctor visits, or health issues. |
| business owner, I think you need to work twice | | | | - It might simply be less focus during the day due |
| as hard simply to deal with the administrative | | | | to poor diet. |
| constraints of having a company here in France. | | | | - They may need to compensate with more |
| What is the problem? | | | | physical exercise. |
| The problem is that you are putting up barriers | | | | Yes, human beings can work 10-12-14 hour days... |
| that stop effective cross-cultural communication. | | | | ... but only for a certain amount of time. |
| Think about it. | | | | If you say otherwise, you are only kidding |
| These are prejudices. | | | | yourself. Everyone else who has been there |
| Some people get offended about this. | | | | knows it. |
| If that is your case, I am sorry I cannot go into | | | | Comparing apples to oranges only shows a lack |
| this in more detail here. But here is something to | | | | of international skills. |
| trigger some reflection. | | | | And this is the first point I got out of this incident. |
| Just think about what prejudice is = | | | | There is at least some lack of international skills in |
| Pre-judgement. | | | | raising the question in the first place. Probably |
| And remember... no one is immune from | | | | exaggerated because the panelists were tired. |
| pre-judging. | | | | This was the wrap up session of a 2-day event. |
| If you want international business this is exactly | | | | Whatever people have to say about this incident, |
| like shooting yourself in the foot. | | | | you need to put a little water in your wine as |
| Questions Get Beyond The Generalization | | | | they say here in France. |
| Now let's turn these generalizations around. Ask | | | | Simply put: keep it in context. |
| why they exist. | | | | ... I am not sure all of the comments you can find |
| Let's look at the cultural differences. | | | | online do this. |
| Why? | | | | More Cross-Cultural Communication |
| - The French traditionally eat hot meals at lunch... | | | | There are often little moments of friction in |
| yes and at dinner too | | | | cross-cultural communication. And I think this is |
| - Americans traditionally eat sandwiches for lunch | | | | what this incident was. When you watch the |
| Why? | | | | video, not much really happened. |
| - The French generally do not snack in between | | | | Look at it closely: |
| meals and spread the daily quantities of food | | | | - A few high powered Americans with one French |
| eaten more evenly between lunch and dinner | | | | man from California |
| - Generally American lunches are proportionally | | | | - A little out of their environment |
| smaller than dinners | | | | - Tired, laid back |
| Why? | | | | - Actually managing quite well |
| - Americans eat a much higher portion of | | | | - Providing valuable and much needed insights for |
| processed and convenience foods compared to | | | | European entrepreneurs |
| the French | | | | There is probably more to say about the |
| - French supermarkets do not have the same | | | | reactions afterward. |
| number of processed foods available | | | | |