Meeting Culture

Scheduling and Punctuality

Timing Considerations: - August is often dead (vacation) - Avoid scheduling during lunch (12-2pm) - Morning meetings preferred - Allow buffer time between meetings - Confirm appointments day before

Punctuality Paradox: - Arrive on time for first meetings - 5-10 minutes late acceptable for regular meetings - Don't arrive early (seems pushy) - Call if more than 10 minutes late - Expect meetings to run over

Meeting Preparation

French meetings often involve more preparation than Anglo-Saxon equivalents:

Before the Meeting: - Prepare thorough documentation - Anticipate theoretical questions - Research attendees' backgrounds - Develop well-reasoned arguments - Create elegant presentations

Meeting Dynamics

The French Meeting Flow:

1. Social Pleasantries (5-10 minutes): - Greetings and catching up - Don't rush to business - Coffee often served

2. Contextual Discussion: - Background exploration - Theoretical framework - Multiple perspectives aired

3. Debate Phase: - Ideas challenged vigorously - Interruptions show engagement - Devil's advocate common - Passion indicates interest

4. Synthesis: - Leader summarizes positions - Decision may be deferred - Next steps outlined

5. Social Close: - Return to pleasantries - Relationship reinforcement

Cultural Context Box: The Love of Debate

French meeting culture encourages intellectual sparring. What might seem like conflict to Americans or dysfunction to Germans is often productive debate to French professionals. Don't take challenges personally—they're testing ideas, not attacking you.

Presentation Styles

French Presentation Preferences: - Theoretical foundation first - Logical argument structure - Cultural references appreciated - Visual elegance matters - Leave time for questions/debate - Expect interruptions

Avoid: - Excessive enthusiasm - Oversimplification - Pure data without context - Rushing through material - Shutting down questions