Perception – Interpreting

2. Perception – Interpreting Traditional => Social

3. feedback Consequences … unintentional message sender receiver unintentional message feedback Communication challenges: Filters & Unintentional messages MESSAGE

4. Consequences … Examples: • Odour & smells • Humour & laughter • Eye contact • Compliments • Finger signalling • Conception of time • Punctuality • Compromising • Socialising • It entails consequences • It makes communication exotic, but may also: • Create misunderstanding • Stress and frustration • Irradiating, insecure, uncomfortable and sad • Feeling lonely/strange

5. Symbols: How dress can impact our thinking…

6. Personal space – and taboos ..

7. Personal space – it is your intimate zone

8. They are Shy……… • It takes a while to ’open up’ a Norwegian, and to many they might seem cold, but they are rather a bit shy… • ”Once friends – always friends” • They are not used to, or good at ’small talk’ • ”Only spontaneous after thinking things through thorougly first”

9. Hierarchy (power distance)

10. Equality is a fundamental principle • We know we are not equal, but we don’t like to communicate inequality • We don’t care about rank and titles • Differences are avoided Welfare ideology: • Positive: Cared for from the cradle to the grave • Negative: Need not make allowance for others – or those that want to be better…

11. Norway also has several minority groups…

12. Norway also has several minority groups…

13. Masculine countries … el machismo

14. Feminine countries … for example Norway .. and StatoilHydro

15. Norwegian Role Models • Down-to-earth and ordinary • – in spite of success & fame!

16. Relations and trust building - behaviour ”He is not angry, he is Norwegian ..”

17. Relations and trust building - behaviour Venezuelan engineer (VI): When you discuss with a European and he says that you are no good, that is harsh, isn’t it? People have never said that to me. You don’t say that here. You show them and give a hint: “You need to improve.” Not as hard as the Europeans do it! Interviewer: Has it ever happened? VI: Yes! Interviewer: How do the Venezuelans react? VI: Well, we do what has to be done, but afterwards we want as little contact with them as possible. Interviewer: And then the Europeans come and create order. How do they react to that? VI: They become quite. People get closed: “ups, here comes the angry man!”, right? Entails consequences.. ”He is not angry, he is Norwegian ..”

18. Relations and trust buildingDirect communication ..

19. Relations and trust buildingDirect communication .. Venezuelan engineer: - One more thing. We do not like to be directly confronted with issues. Everyone says: “he he, calm down, smile”, but the Europeans always say “you are not good enough, you are not good enough. That’s it.” If you discuss something with a European and he says that you are not good enough, that’s hard, isn’t it? Nobody has ever said that to me. You don’t say that here. You show them and give them a hint “you need to improve”, but not that hard! (…) - I repeat: the problem is that Europeans say things too directly, something which we are not used to. Maybe it is in the language or the culture, but we speak more. We are more jovial. We break the ice and take it one step further: “How is your family? How are you?” This was bothering me a lot in France. We are very familiar. “How is your mother? Your child?”

20. They are Independent • If offered a cup of coffee • the Norwegian wants to pay for it • he/ does not want to be in debt of gratitude • If he needs a ladder • many will buy it instead of borrowing the neighbour’s ladder • Selfish and individualistic, but might also show altruism • ”dugnad” is well known in Norway – those who do not participate and help are disrespected

21. They are Modest and Simple • If someone says to a Norwegian that he or she is good at something: • many would never say: ”I know” • Many will respond: ”Do you think so?” • Boasting and bragging is a sin - Modesty is a virtue • Withdrawal is often considered appropriate (unconsciously) • Norway was a poor country with no extravagant style • Older generations still remembers this • They bring sandwiches to work, and have only one hot meal a day

22. They are Honest and fair They can be brutally direct - They say what they mean: • If they say they can dosomething - then they can do it • If they say they are not sure -they are not sure • If they say no - then they can’t • If they invite you – they really mean it

23. Jokes and ”noise”