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