What happens at a “How to Work in Denmark” workshop
For mixed groups of Danes and internationals
My “How to Work in Denmark” corporate workshops are active and creative.
We talk about how to work together better across cultures….and then examine and reinforce those messages with reflection groups and improv exercises.
Among the general topics we work with:
Hierarchy
Newly-arrived internationals may be hesitant to challenge a Danish boss, in particular if they are here on a working visa. We do improv exercises on how a Danish boss might give an international team member “permission” to disagree.
Small talk
Danes are famous for wanting to get right to the task at hand, but other cultures often prefer a bit of small talk before getting to work. One improv exercise involves strategies for light small talk – and how Danes can even prepare in advance for small talk – before getting down to business.
Blame culture
In work cultures with less of a social safety net than Denmark, the first response when things go wrong may be to look for someone to blame. We talk about tactics for redirecting the emphasis toward fixing processes to avoid future mistakes.
Positive feedback
Internationals who are new to the Danish workplace are thirsty for positive feedback, and they need more praise, and more frequent praise, than a Dane who feels secure and established.
I explain how several internationals at various Danish companies have told me they got so little positive feedback that they were afraid they were about to be fired – and were surprised to be given a raise and a promotion!
It’s all about expectations
In my workshops, everyone looks at their expectations and why they have these expectations.
Danes, for example, have never known a life without a social welfare state and a highly unionized population. They take it for granted that team members will work only the hours they are paid for, and take all their vacation.
People from less secure or more competitive cultures may feel they have to work until midnight to prove their dedication to the job, or skip taking time off, maybe even shorten their parental leave to get back to work.
Figuring out what someone else is expecting is a good way to cross cultural bridges and work better together.
Book a workshop
Get in touch, and we can tailor a Danish working culture workshop for your group’s needs and your schedule.
Kay happily travels within Denmark and within Europe and the USA.
Kay’s books “How to Work in Denmark: Tips for Finding a Job, Succeeding at Work, and Understanding your Danish Boss” and “Working with Americans/Working With Danes” are available to workshop organizers at a reduced bulk rate.
