Power Distance and Authority

France scores high on power distance indices, meaning that inequality in power distribution is more accepted than in many Western countries. This manifests in several ways:

Centralized Decision-Making

French organizations typically concentrate decision-making authority at higher levels. While input might be solicited from various levels, final decisions often rest with senior management. This can frustrate those from consensus-driven cultures but provides clarity about responsibility and accountability.

The PDG (Président-Directeur Général) or Director General often wields considerable personal authority. Unlike the collaborative CEO model common elsewhere, French leaders are expected to provide vision and direction with less emphasis on building consensus. This doesn't mean autocracy—French subordinates are quite capable of resistance—but it does mean that leadership is expected to lead decisively.

Respect for Expertise

Paradoxically, French hierarchy highly values specific expertise. The expert who masters their domain commands respect regardless of formal position. This creates dual hierarchies—the formal organizational chart and the informal recognition of expertise. Navigating between these requires sensitivity to when formal position matters versus when expertise should prevail.

Technical competence particularly commands respect. The engineer who understands complex systems or the financial expert who masters intricate regulations gains authority through knowledge. This respect for expertise can sometimes challenge formal hierarchy when junior experts must guide senior generalists.

Formality and Protocol

French workplaces maintain higher formality than many Western environments. This includes: - Use of titles and surnames until explicitly invited to do otherwise - Formal greetings each morning to all colleagues - Structured meeting protocols with clear agendas - Written communications following established formats - Dress codes that signal professional status

These formalities aren't empty rituals but communicate respect for professional roles and relationships. Ignoring them signals either ignorance or disrespect, neither conducive to effective working relationships.