Title: Communication culture in the Finnish workplace
Course: Study PrepProg Multicultural Workplace > Section: 5 Honesty, trust and modesty

Communication culture in the Finnish workplace

Straight to the point

The Finnish style of speech is direct and straightforward. In Finland, people are expected to truly mean what they say. Finns usually speak out, and speaking out is not considered impolite in Finland. Saying what you mean is also normal in working life. For example, if you do not have enough time to complete a task, it is best to say so to your supervisor. At meetings, the usual procedure is to get straight to the point after greeting everybody.  (InfoFinland.)

Saying things the way they are is a way of saving time. It is normal to go straight to point. For example, emails can start without any pleasantries: ”Hi, could you check this and that…”. On the other hand, this makes asking easy; Whenever you are confused about something or wonder how and why something is done, or you have questions about your work in general, you can ask. Asking also shows your motivation to learn. (TEK.)

Truth and honesty

Truth and honesty are important vaues in finnish society and it is common for Finns to trust other people and the authorities. This can be seen in the work culture in such a way that People believe what you say and expect you to act accordingly. In Finnish working culture, it is important to adhere to the things that have been agreed upon. When something has been decided together, the employees and employer assume that everyone will do what has been decided. (InfoFinland)

Silence

Finns are not afraid to speak out when it's required working life but they also tolerate silence well. Being silent feels natural to Finns and there may be a certain amount of quiet moments in conversations with Finns. If you don't have anything to say, there is no need to fill quiet moments with speech because silence is not a negative thing. (TEK, InfoFinland)

Modesty

Many Finns esteem modesty highly. People tend not to distinguish themselves in a group, they avoid talking in a loud voice and bragging. In Finland, it is good manners to take others into account and listen to them. Finns normally wait for their discussion partners to finish before speaking themselves. Loud speech can be thought of as unpleasant or rude, especially in a public place. (InfoFinland)

Socialize on the coffee break

At work, Finns typically enjoy lunch and coffee breaks with colleagues and it is good time to socialize. Some workplaces even have organized sports teams or hobby clubs. In the Finnish culture, work and private lives are kept rather separate. While Finns are hard workers while on the job, most draw a firm line between work and life: once they leave the office, the workday is over. When you are getting to know your colleagues, it's better to stick to more neutral topics at first (e.g. hobbies, TV, music) than asking very personal questions (relationship, children, health). (TEK, Work in Finland.)

Sources:

InfoFinland

- Finnish working culture https://www.infofinland.fi/en/work-and-enterprise/finnish-working-culture
- Finnish customs https://www.infofinland.fi/en/information-about-finland/cultures-and-religions-in-finland/finnish-customs

TEK (professional community of academic engineers and architects in Finland) - Finnish work culture https://www.tek.fi/en/services-and-benefits/work-life-in-finland/finnish-work-culture

Work in Finland - Finnish work culture https://www.workinfinland.com/en/why-finland/working-in-finland/working-culture/