Corporate Culture

This episode is one of Robin’s favorites. In it, the co-hosts discuss American corporate culture. Inevitably, the discussion broadens into one about the broader cultural differences between the USA and (primarily) Europe.

Ismaine and Robin share their views and feelings about what could be called “American thin skin”. This refers to the fact that direct speaking is not much appreciated in many US organizations. Americans often seem to demand more conformity to cultural norms, often reinforced by rules, than Europeans. Ismaine and Robin agree that Europeans can bring more of their personality to work than can Americans and are less likely to be scared that a criticism might be taken as a personal attack. The co-hosts further consider how Americans often use language to soften things to a point that they obscure them. Although this is often done with the purpose of making people feel better, it often creates conflict by obscuring aspects of human nature and genuine feelings.

Could this be a result of American culture being more litigious than European? Could it be, in part, a consequence of the fact that Americans are more likely to live to work while Europeans are more likely to work to live.

And has diversity ironically become a concept used to promote conformity in the USA?