10-Managing Differences

When visiting Finland, one has to be mindful of potential culture shock. Vacationing in Finland would be somewhat easy, as English is a popular language to speak, so there would be no verbal communication differences. However, the way that Finns communicate is different than what Americans are used to. Finns are very straightforward and sarcastic, which makes it hard for Americans to know when something is a joke and when it isn’t (Visit Finland). Sarcasm is commonplace in Finnish culture, especially self-deprecation. However, Finns will usually be fully upfront with people, so small talk and false claims aren’t usual there. For example, when a Finnish person asks you to get drinks sometime, they mean that they will contact you shortly to schedule a time to hang out. In America, such claims are sometimes false and are just used as an end to the conversation.

  While a vacation to Finland would be pretty easy to adjust to, moving to Finland for a year or more will cause a need for a lot of minor, but important changes. Working in Finland is a very different atmosphere than in America, because of the differences in nonverbal communication, and business nuances. Nonverbal communication in Finland is very minimal, while in America, nonverbal communication by gesturing is a large part of conversations. For example, touch in Finnish culture is usually reserved for family, or a handshake upon meeting someone (Zucchet). In America, hugs are very common, even in the workplace. Working in Finland means that Americans would have to relearn the absence of touch from acquaintances. Another aspect that may make working in Finland difficult for an American is the utmost importance of time. In corporate America, meetings are commonplace, and typically very few things are established within that meeting. Usually, it is just a checkup on everyone’s progress and more of an open space to bounce around ideas. In Finland, it is considered rude to plan a meeting without a very clear decision in mind. Most communication is done through non-paced ways of communication, like emails. Not only that, but a meeting in Finland is much shorter than an American meeting because when something is established, the meeting is done. For an American who is used to scheduling meetings into their routine, this may be a major roadblock to getting their work and getting it done. 

To relieve culture shock, which is the mental or physical stress of visiting a new culture, people need to be knowledgeable about as many cultures as possible. That means that new cultures need to be incorporated into their daily lives as often as possible. This could mean trying new foods or watching different types of media. Engaging in new cultures can be a very fun experience, and can ease the stress if one ever finds themselves surrounded by a culture unlike their own. Culture shock can deter people from visiting other places, which can harm their quality of life. Being stuck in the same culture for a whole lifetime means experiences are being missed. 

Zucchet, Elinor. Berlitz. Body Language in Different Cultures around the World. 21 August 2023. https://www.berlitz.com/blog/body-language-different-cultures-around-world, accessed 21 March 2024. 

Visit Finland. Get to Know the Finns. https://www.visitfinland.com/en/articles/what-are-finns-like/. Accessed 18 April 2024.