Today and for years before now, Switzerland has become the headquarters of many multinational companies. Well-known reasons that companies migrate to Switzerland include lower business taxes and the relative freedom given to companies settling in the country.
Did you know?
Did you know that there are seven Federal Ministers in the Swiss government—and no Prime Minister?
Questions like this are of more value to those learning how to live and work in Switzerland than the random knowledge one might memorize in preparation for their Who Wants To Be a Millionaire game show audition. Both the questions—and the context behind the questions—provide knowledge and know-how that professionals working with and in Switzerland can apply in order to win trust and business.
The Swiss culture
Some companies in Switzerland with a high number of in-country, foreign-national employees offer workshops such as intercultures swiss’ Living and Working in Switzerland, regularly carried out by one Swiss-based fashion design client. New employees of the company who are relocated to Switzerland from the Americas, Europe and the UK are invited to a workshop with intercultures swiss to learn about themselves, one another and Swiss (business) culture.
Switzerland – sharing power and leadership
In order to introduce workshop participants to the Swiss mode of thought, we speak about researched generalizations regarding the country and the people, as well as some specifics of the political and educational systems. These Federal systems, for example, are based on subsidiarity principles, which lend significant influence to decisions taken on a local level—rather than by a central authority. Every year, one of the seven Federal Ministers is appointed a lead position for a one-year term and assigned symbolic duties. Sharing power and leadership is based deeply within Swiss history. At work, too, such organizing and leadership principles have a great influence on what is considered appropriate and effective behavior in professional situations.
Hierarchy
People in Switzerland accept Democratic thinking and compromise in response to various interests that are represented by a population who is characterized by a high level of national and ethnic diversity. Switzerland has no common language and no easily-identifyable mainstream culture. It is a nation of free will with an identity based on a common history, myth and free thinking—and that has never been ruled by a king or single authority. Democratic thinking and acting is a basic right people rely upon in Switzerland—both in politics and in business. Subordinates, for instance, expect to be consulted and want to be involved in many business processes such as goal definition, decision making and work planning in a workplace culture that tends to be hierarchically flat. The required leadership style for this context tends to be participative. That said: That there is no negotiation when it comes to the standards of efficiency and quality in Switzerland.
Eliminate the counterproductive
Depending on the interests and the composition of workshop participants, we spend more time speaking about the Swiss leadership style, differences among group participants or otherwise. Besides learning about Switzerland, one main objective for participants is to realize the validity of their own or others’ difference, as well as to eliminate counterproductive stereotyping.
The above article was included in the May 2015 intercultures e-newsletter.
