"That's not how we do it in the US -- weird!!"
"Why does it take soooooo long to do this in [your country]??"
"Please send us detailed responses by end of day today."
__________
These are some recurring comments I've heard colleagues (lawyers and non-lawyers) say to non-US counsel over the years.
Sometimes people are SO SHOCKED that something is done differently in another country; or that it is possible to have different priorities in life, policy, or work culture.
I always encourage my teams to LEARN about a country -- its people, culture, policy priorities, approach to work-life balance, holidays -- to help avoid asking insensitive questions, or setting unrealistic and unhelpful deadlines.
Even opening the same restaurant, in the same city, in a new neighborhood, requires an understanding of the new neighborhood -- so many things could go wrong.
Now imagine opening a new office, or launching a new business unit, in a completely different country that most of your team has never been to (and barely knows anything about).
Thank you to all the amazing international counsel we've worked with over the years -- for your grace, care, and capacity to be amazing partners despite the challenges.
Comments