business communication france business communication

Communication culture: The French are usually very cheerful, witty, polite and skillful in communication.. The French are generally proud of their way of life, emphasizing the importanc

NATIONAL ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY

BUSINESS SCHOOL FAR ACK ARK RAK AK

BUSINESS COMMUNICATION FRANCE BUSINESS COMMUNICATION

Group members:

Vu Tuyén Hoang - 11192118

Nguyễn Sỹ Duy Anh - 11190350

Lương Phương Linh - 11192856

Class: E-BBA 11.1

Instructor: Mrs Nguyen Phuong Mai

Hanoi, 2022

Contents

I Introduction - Culture PrOfTÏÌ€ cuc c nnnnnn né nh nnnn nh nh khe 3

2 Communication STVÌ€ ch n nen nh nh khe Kế bế benh 4 2.2 Verbal communicafiOn nh TT nh nh nh benh khu 4 2.2 Nonverbal CommunicatiOn c ccccn nnn nh nh nh ben Hee 5

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A Individualism and COMectiViSM cccccccccceeseseseeseeseeeeeeeeeeeeeeees 6

5 Time, agenda and deadlines ‹ nh nh nh nen eo 8

FEXCÌllio -jjdc¬aaiaaaẳiiiaiiẳẳ 9 R€fGT€HC€S cu nh nh nen nh HT TK To kh TK tk kh ty 10

Introduction - Culture Profile

1 Location: With a variety of regions and overseas territories, the major territory is in Western Europe

2 Population: About 70 million (2022 est.)

3 Capital: Paris

4 Language: French

5 General: France has long enjoyed its status as a world center for the arts, sciences and philosophy France is a developed nation with the sixth-largest nominal GDP and ninth-largest GDP PPP in the world In terms of education, health, life expectancy, and human development, France ranks highly internationally

6 Communication culture: The French are usually very

cheerful, witty, polite and skillful in communication They pay much attention to external appearance and believe that a person's way of dressing, speaking, gestures, and gestures reflects his or her cultural level The French like style, formality and distinct class

ll Body

1 Context

France is a high-context culture The French are generally proud of

their way of life, emphasizing the importance of personal relationships and loyalty These values have long been a part of French culture, and despite the fact that globalization has been very strong, the French have maintained these values

According to research conducted in Paris (by ThegoodlifeFrance newspaper), nearly 55% of communication appears to be nonverbal

If you want to do business in France, you must pay attention not only to verbal communication but also to nonverbal cues such as gestures, postures, facial expressions, tone of voice, appearance,

and so on

France is regarded as the world's "cultural center," and the French are especially proud of their capital, Paris, which serves as the world's fashion capital The evolution of the world's fashion capital can be seen in the elaborate way that the French dress, lay out, and decorate their homes and streets The words "respect" clearly express the French way of life That is also why they place a high value on social and physical settings When speaking to them, you must ensure that your words, actions, and formality are correct The manner in which you speak, polite gestures, and an attractive appearance will assist you in eliciting initial sympathy for other person It is also the starting point for developing a loyal relationship when doing business in France

When it comes to doing business in France (a high context culture), you may come across the following:

e Miscommunication while transferring/exchanging information

e Lack of information

e A lot of information is sent nonverbally, such as gestures, touch, time, and facial expressions,

e Long-term relationships and loyalty are prioritized

e ‘Unwritten’ rules that are taken for granted but can easily be missed by strangers

e Contracts are shorter since less information is needed

2 Communication Style

France is a high context culture Communication is more ambiguous and nuanced There is less overall instruction and a more “figure it out as you go” mindset Because first impressions are essential to French people, both verbal and nonverbal communication must be considered

2.2

It is strongly advised that you learn some basic French phrases Your efforts will be recognized, and if the French notice you are trying, they will switch back to English

Business communication frequently sparks heated arguments

As a result, you must express your thoughts on the issues about which you are knowledgeable Otherwise, it will spark a dispute, and you will have to elaborate to support your position It is common for French people to ask a lot of

questions and to interrupt somebody before having finished their argument It is a common habit which signifies interest in the speaker and in the discussion Take it as a positive sign and

do the same!

Small talk is a good way of giving business contact with the French a more personal touch! In a telephone conversation, they value someone who does not come straight to the point but who first asks about the business partner's well-being, how things are in the office or what the weather is like

Develop a connection with the French people by discussing their favorite topics such as art, music, sports, and philosophy They are excited about their cuisine, so begin your

conversation with it

Studying French history, politics, and other areas of culture can help you converse with the French

Nonverbal Communication

2.2.1 Eye contact

Looking into the communicator is regarded as polite Ifa

communication partner does not look into the French partner's eyes,

it may be considered that the one speaking is looking down on him

or her Staring, on the other hand, is prohibited since it is considered unfriendly and disrespectful

2.2.2 Gestures

e It is crucial to understand when and with whom gestures can be used

» The French use the "thumbs up" symbol to indicate "all right."

« The "okay" sign, formed with the index and middle fingers,

symbolizes "zero."

¢ Wiping the brow with one hand indicates "enough" or "I can't stand

it any longer."

¢« Turning your hand upwards and putting your thumb to your fingers indicates "fear."

¢ Grasping your throat loosely with one hand signifies "unbelievable"

or "yeah right."

¢ To indicate the price of something, most French people hold out their hands, fingers and thumb touching, and rub the thumb over the fingertips

2.2.3 Postures

« Always stand up straight to demonstrate their nationalism and pride;

Walk in a controlled manner (do not flail their arms)

¢« Do not put your hands in your pockets when communicating with someone

* Keep your feet and seats on the ground Do not lean back or lay your feet on a desk or chair

2.2.4 Facial Expressions

« The French are generally careful in their use of facial expressions (because they respect privacy), which is sometimes misinterpreted

as rude

s The French do not smile mụch because they believe that it is only important to smile when there is something to smile about

3 Formality

3.1 Greeting

In greetings and communication, self-recognition of mistakes is highly appreciated, considering it a good virtue It is very important to keep it visible to others, to avoid public conflicts When meeting each other, just say “Bonjour”, shake hands lightly If you are familiar, you can kiss lightly, symbolically, on

a woman's left and right cheekbones If you meet for the first time, it is absolutely not allowed to do that

When invited, absolutely not allowed to refuse If you really don't have time, you can agree to have a snack together In France, the meal is still a convenient and popular place and occasion for negotiation and contract negotiation

The French love talking, so you will make a good impression if you listen attentively Absolutely do not use words or express anything so that the French people can misunderstand that they are teaching them

3.2 Gift

Can bring beautifully bouqueted flowers or delicious confectionery as gifts But gift-giving among business associates is not common practice in France

3.3 Dress

In the invitation card, it is usually very clear that the requirements for dressing are appropriate If it says “Tenue de soirée” it means a polite dress code: a dark suit, tie for men, and a fancy dress for women If it says "Tenue de ville" there, you can dress more simply, not necessarily a tie

3.4 Social rules

e At work, you must absolutely adhere to the time Do not be late

e Negotiating with the French is a very difficult and unpredictable thing, so it is often ineffective to be well prepared because all possibilities are possible Often results are achieved only at the last minute or during private affairs during breaks So, just improve yourself and be ready for every situation

e Gestures of courtesy are very much appreciated in France, especially for women

e Don’t use phone when talking

4 Individualism and collectivism

In an individualist culture, people are expected to look out for their immediate family as well as themselves In communal societies, people belong to "in groups" that watch out for them in exchange for loyalty

France is seen as a society that values individuals Parents assist their children in being emotionally independent of the social groupings they are a part of This suggests that people ought to pay attention primarily to their own needs and those of their families

The French have a unique combination of strong individualism and high power distance scores This combination produces a sort of contradiction in addition to being exceptional Only in the sense that the model's ratings have no bearing on anything They only offer a structured reflection of the world In France, this combination has the following forms:

French people are said to be less obese than citizens of other EU countries in part because parents still exert more control over their children Whether or if this is true, we don't know Families do, however, have a greater emotional connection than those in other Individualist civilizations This is a result of Power Distance's excellent rating and its increased consideration for the elderly Normally, subordinates show their employer formal reverence and respect, but they may act in opposition to what they agreed to do because they may feel they are aware of better options but are unable to communicate with them

The complete rejection of those in authority in contrast to formal submission is another indicator of high power distance because there is no ability to change through development but only through strikes, revolts, and revolution Because they view each other as almost a separate species, employers and trade unions rarely interact Even though the US scores better on individualism, the need to clearly separate work and personal life is more in France than in the US Due to their emotional reliance on what their employer says and does, employees in China react to pressure more swiftly than they would in the US

Such dependency is welcomed in societies that score highly on the

"typical" mix of Power Distance and Collectivism Unless the people

in charge don't behave like good fathers The French would rather rely on the central government because it is a faceless organization and cannot easily intrude on their personal space Although everyone in a crisis needs strong leadership, this is especially true in France Despite this, the president should make room _ for significantly less capable leadership after the crisis is over Many

French people feel the urge to take on "patron" roles, such as mayor

of a small community or bridge club head

The French have a strong desire to excel in their field Therefore, they demand respect for the work they do in exchange for which they are eager to provide you with excellent service

5 Time, agenda and deadlines

In France, timing is variable but in limit, although a five-minute delay

is often acceptable provided it has been communicated Because there are geographical differences in timeliness, the further south you travel, the more flexible the attitude toward time is Meetings should be scheduled at least two weeks ahead of time

In France, people tend to be more concerned with how problems can

be resolved than with how long the meeting lasts.They believe that

if a discussion goes at a slow pace, it will help the participants to build more connection with the issue Therefore, any schedules of the duration of a meeting or an agenda is only an estimate and is uncertain If a meeting drags on and someone is waiting, they will verry understand

The decision-making process in French business etiquette is relatively slow Decisions are rarely taken at the first meeting Besides, If your partner has invited you to dinner (whether it's a casual meal or a work-related meal), you should arrive about 15 minutes late In fact, arriving on time for a dinner party is considered impolite in France

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