Business Culture: The differences between Austria and the US

It's been almost to the day two months since I started working in the US and while it's been an absolutely wonderful, let me tell you, the culture shock is real, too. While not completely unexpected, I had assumed that it wouldn't be as intense after already having lived abroad in three countries - well, I assumed wrong. Never assume anything, kids. Working abroad is another thing entirely compared to studying abroad or traveling. 

The heroes behind this blogpost are Hofstede, and everyone who came after him: those wonderful humans who spent their life and research defining culture in clear, easily understandable boxes of cultural dimensions, enabling people like me (moving abroad) to understand the culture they're now living and working in. Let me tell you - it greatly helps when trying to understand why people do or do not do certain things and makes it a lot easier to assimilate into a new culture!

The most helpful resource for me was the book "The culture map" by Erin Meyer (a book so amazing that when I lent it to a friend and she didn’t give it back, I re-bought it for myself). It focuses on the different aspects of business culture and how those differ across cultures and countries. The most salient differences between Austria and the US to me were the following:

• Persuading:

This is 100% the biggest difference I noticed - and also something I'm glad I was at least aware of from the beginning (if not always successful at implementing):

Some cultures (Germany/Austria) tend towards deductive arguments - we need all the background, theories and complex concepts that then lead us to the facts and applications resulting from these. US culture on the other hands tends more towards inductive arguments - you start with the application, the this is what we're going to do which is only then followed by the and here is why. This affects e-ver-y-thing. From E-mails to how presentations are built to how meetings are led.

While I haven't managed to shake the instinct to start with the how and follow with the so what, I am working on consciously going back over what I write and adjust it to fit local culture better. Not always a sure-fire way but quite effective nonetheless.

• Leading

While in "The culture Map" leading focuses mostly on hierarchical and egalitarian leadership with both the US and Germany/Austria being relatively similar in the middle (which matches my experience), I did notice on big difference: Formality. US culture is a lot more informal - most everyone, whether colleague or client is on a first name basis immediately, and there isn't even a way to differentiate formal vs informal addressing of a person. This immediately and automatically lowers the perceived distance between people, resulting in a more informal hierarchy as well - something I honestly very much enjoy. 

• Giving Feedback

While both the US and Germany/Austria communicate rather directly and straightforwardly, cultures differ quite a bit when it comes to giving feedback. I grew up in an environment where direct, honest feedback without any sugarcoating was the norm - which is doubly dangerous when moving to the US: 1. It would come across as incredibly rude if I gave feedback as we do at home (Time to reign in my natural instincts there), but also 2. It means I need to learn to read between the lines. Because, let's be honest, if I didn't all I'd hear was: You're doing great! Regarding this, I'm especially glad about a practice I established early on in my career based off a mentor's recommendation: Addressing how you give feedback and want to be given feedback in an early discussion with both your manager and your reports and align those with the other's!

The most interesting thing to me in this context, is that it's the complete opposite when it comes to positive feedback: people in the US will praise you a lot more easily for jobs well done - and this doesn't just apply to the business-context. I've never received more compliments from random friendly strangers (your bag, your earrings, your dress, … the list goes on!) than ever before in my life.  Germans/Austrians on the other hand will reeeally make you work hard for that praise ;)

There are of course many more small differences - in  professional as well as my private life that are challenging at times (Do Supermarkets ever close here?? Does Public transportation even exist?? Can you buy actual bread anywhere?? Why do all customer service people want to know my entire life story?? Whyyyy is the AC turned up so much everywhere?? I'm getting off track here). I couldn't appreciate my team more for giving me both, the space to experience the differences as well as the right pointers not to offend anyone :D

Have you lived abroad? What cultural differences did you experiences and how did you work through them? I’d love to know!

Link to the book mentioned: The culture map by Erin Meyer