WORKING IN FRANCE - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette: France - page 204

Less emphasis will be put on your individual performance
than on cooperation and l exibility. Teamwork is essential to
the French. That strong spirit of competition and the drive
to succeed that got you to France in the i rst place may not
serve you so well now that you are here.
Many things, visible and invisible, are different in a French
bureau (ofi ce): from the paper clips to the i ling containers
to the standard size of the paper to the way meetings
are conducted.
From the instant you arrive,
your language skills will be
challenged. You should start now,
gearing up on comprehension
skills, both in language and in
the silent rules of the French
way of doing business. Those
pleasant French associates who
spoke English so well during
your brief visits to France in the
past now expect you to speak
French.

Paper Cuts
If you are used to the American
8.5 x 11 inch letter standard of
paper, you will fi nd the rest of the
world uses an A4 standard, which
is taller and narrower by nearly
an inch. Likewise, the storage of
fi les is handled in boxes rather
than fi le cabinets, and American
paper doesn't fit into them.
Nor does American paper fi t
into French business envelopes.
Your computer will have to
resize your documents for the
French printers.

The Ofi ce Layout
We already know French life revolves around circles of
relationship. These 'radiating networks' dei ne a French ofi ce,
and how everything is connected. The manager's desk will often
be in the middle of the room with his staff surrounding him. He
or she is the central i gure in a hierarchy that involves many staff
working as equal satellites. That manager, in turn, will answer to
the PDG ( Président Directeur Général ), who is himself surrounded
by a team of managers. This is a i rm patriarchal structure, with
the real power focused at the PDG. Don't forget your position in
this layout.

Many of the ofi ce staff will turn out to be uncomfortable
with English and a bit resentful towards it, because it makes
their job harder. Regardless of your success and track record,
you will be considered with some suspicion. You may