Danish egalitarianism

An egalitarian system, strong values...

Working effectively with Danes requires some adaptations.

Equality and redistribution, autonomy and personal development are important values ​​for the Danes who are proud of the social and economic system they have put in place.

The Danish way of life is strongly imbued with the “Janteloven”, shared by all, according to which Danes are all equal. Egalitarianism between social strata is based in particular on the law which imposes, for example, equal pay between men and women (Ligelønsloven).

The tax burden in Denmark is the highest in the world. And the Danes are satisfied with it, because 33% of tax revenues are redistributed to the education system, infrastructure and social actions. In addition, they benefit from free education and medical care.

The school system promotes personal development before the race for success. The notion of “Grandes Écoles” does not exist.

Flexicurity makes it easy to hire and fire while providing job seekers with significant long-term unemployment benefits. This policy is accompanied by a lifelong training system.

This egalitarian system translates into professional life in different ways.

Clear communication

The working environment is characterized by a relaxed atmosphere where communication is based on two particularities:

• an informal tone that facilitates communication: we don't judge each other, we respect each other.
• a culture of the explicit. The confused, the imprecise, the ambiguous are excluded. It is important to provide as much detail as possible in your explanations to promote understanding.

Team spirit: a group of autonomous individuals

The Danish tradition of teamwork involves a group assessment and a team response. Tasks are carried out jointly, objectives shared and the final product is the result of collective efforts. At the same time, great autonomy and true independence are expected from an employee. He is free to choose the means to carry out his work in the most efficient way.

There is more focus on tasks and responsibilities rather than job titles. Furthermore, each person has the opportunity to exert influence at work regardless of their position.

A culture of consensus

During meetings, organized with rigor, everyone expresses their opinion and makes suggestions to find consensus.

Understanding the decision-making process is a real challenge when you don't know a company well! The short hierarchical distance, the absence of formalism and the search for consensus blur the lines, and it is sometimes difficult to know who to contact... a certain period of adaptation may be necessary before feeling at ease. comfortable.

The feedback culture is very specific to Denmark as is the way orders are transmitted. In fact, a Danish manager considers himself more like a coach than a leader and he expects regular feedback from his team.

At work, “time is money”

In Denmark, we respect punctuality and deadlines, we arrive on time and we leave on time. In general, Danes make it a point of honor to get their work done within the allotted time; failing to complete it on time means poor organization and poor time management.

They don't like to waste their time and make others waste it; it's a lack of respect. It is therefore necessary to organize schedules and deadlines, manage your time well, conclude with a clearly defined objective and set a date to meet again.

A good balance between private and professional life

The relationship with private life and time management is essential in Denmark. It is not uncommon to see a Dane leave his office at 4 p.m. because he considers that the success of his life requires a balance between his work life and his family life.

In Denmark, the child is considered the Gold of the Nation and an adult can be punished by law if he puts his hands on his child.

And to do business with Danes...

Back

• Arrive right on time.
• Gain trust through your seriousness and rigor.
• Give clear, precise and unambiguous explanations.
• Get used to a flat hierarchy that makes it difficult to identify the decision maker.
• ...

Don't's

• Never send your products late.
• Don't talk about your achievements or your diplomas.
• Don't inquire into the private life of a Dane.
• Don't kiss him on the cheeks or get too close to him.
• ...