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Business-Dances with Danes

Decoding Danish workplace culture

Practical guide about living and working in Denmark

 

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Business-Dances with Danes?
Decoding Danish work culture rating 
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All about the DOs and DON'Ts in Danish workplace culture...
Farewell unwritten rules in Denmark! This book explains the background of social norms in Denmark, provides aids to “decipher” the codes of social behaviour and sheds light on the DOs and DON’Ts of the Danish workplace and when working with Danes. It is built on the first-hand experience of many Danes and 32 international interviewees. 250 pages, available since November 2012.  

Decoding Danish work culture

See pictures from the release event at Børsen, the Danish Stock Exchange

Business-Dances with Danes in the media 


Who reads the Worktrotter books?

Who reads the Worktrotter-books about life and work in Denmark

 

 

 

 

How to buy the Worktrotter books?

You can buy the books either online (see below).
If you wan to buy them in a bookshop, check out the bookshops where they are on stock or order them in any book shop with the ISBNs below.
Companies, organisations and bookshops can order the books on normal or electronic invoice by sending an email to contact (at) worktrotter.dk.
- Business-Dances with Danes:
ISBN: 978-3-941696-05-1 / DK ISBN: 978-87-993913-1-8
- The Worktrotter's Guide to Denmark:
ISBN: 978-3-941696-07-5 / DK ISBN: 978-87-993913-0-1



Worktrotter-books have free shipping world-wide

 

You can find more information about our work by looking at the"The Worktrotter's Guide to Denmark and
at our inspiring presentations about "Denmark seen with foreign eyes" on different topics about life and work in Denmark.

DOs and DON'Ts in Danish workplace culture


Comments  

#5 Diana Mastan 2013-05-07 14:27
Right to the point, I wished I read this book before moving to Denmark. I would have avoided some frustrating moments when I took things personal without thinking that Danes might just not be aware of the challenges I was experiencing. Not only that it helps me understand many work-related concerns but it even helps me understand my Danish partner better.

After living in Denmark for almost 3 years, I was aware of some particularities of the Danish culture but it really helps to have an overview of the differences and similarities with my own culture and mindset.
Thank you for your initiative!
#4 Jørgen Suhr 2012-12-06 21:53
This is really cool !
#3 Dagmar 2012-11-30 07:39
Translation of cln's post:

Great book which I have enjoyed reading. You hit the Bull's Eye for many aspects. The book might be written for expats, but the Danes who work with non-Danes, can have enormous benefit of seeing themselves in the mirror.

You are right with your descriptions of hygge, Jante, humor / irony, being reserved, etc. There is of course clear difference between people from Copenhagen and Northern Jutland. Even in this small country with fewer inhabitants than Berlin, a person from Northern Jutland can experience the same culture shock by coming to Copenhagen (or vice versa) similar to a non-Dane.

When I look at how we Danes do business in our company with Germans, I recognize clearly your description of our culture - informal, come quickly to the point, "quit the crap" attitude, being open. Our German colleagues have become accustomed to us and we to them, and thus we have a fine and balance, but when we meet external Germans or Swedes (North Germans and Swedes are closer genetically related than, say, Danes and Swedes), it is very important to be observant and tread with some caution - we have learned that some Danes had to pay "mistake penalties" in the sense that they have not achieved their goals in meetings because their behavior has alienated the people they met. Nothing new under the sun, for it happens to all nationalities, but the good thing is that by reading a book like yours, Danes can be aware of their own "shortcomings" and take them into account. Such Danes can have great benefit from reading your book. Moreover, the problem is of course the same for other nationalities who meet with Danes.
Thanks for the book!
#2 Lars Wuergler 2012-11-26 12:14
Dear dagmar, it's a great book you have written, and very helpful for Danes working with foreingers. There are very many good advises which I am sure will help in my work with my foreign colleges. Good luck with the book, Best regards Lars
#1 cln 2012-11-23 15:15
Fantastisk bog, som jeg har nydt at læse. På rigtigt mange punkter rammer du Bull’s Eye. Bogen er måske skrevet for expats, men danskere, der arbejder sammen med ikke-danskere, kan have kæmpemæssig gavn af at se sig selv i spejlet.

Du rammer alle de rigtige steder i dine beskrivelser af hygge, Jantelov, humor/ironi, reserverthed etc. Der er naturligvis klar forskel på fx Københavnere og Nord-Jyder. Selv i dette lille land, der har færre indbyggere end Berlin, kan en Nord-Jyde næsten opleve samme kulturchok ved at komme til København (eller omvendt) som en udlænding.

Når jeg ser på hvordan vi danskere driver virksomhed sammen med tyskere internt i vores virksomhed, genkender jeg klart din beskrivelse af vores kultur – uformelle, kom hurtigt til sagen, ”quit the crap”, vær åbne. Vores tyske kolleger har vænnet sig til os og vi til dem, og derved har vi en fin og udmærket balance, men når vi mødes med eksterne tyskere eller svenskere (Nord-tyskere og svenskere er tættere genetisk forbundne end fx danskere og svenskere :-)), er det meget vigtigt at være opmærksomme og træde med en vis forsigtighed – det har vi lært i den forstand, at nogle danskere simpelthen har ”betalt dummebøder” på den måde, at de ikke har nået deres mål for mødet fordi de ved deres adfærd har frastødt de mennesker, de mødtes med. Intet nyt under solen, for det sker for alle nationaliteter, men det gode er, at man ved at læse en bog som din, kan blive opmærksom på sine egne ”shortcomings” og tage højde for dem. Sådanne danskere kan have mega stor gavn af at læse din bog. I øvrigt er problemet naturligvis det samme for andre nationaliteter, der mødes med danskere.
Tak for bogen!

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Denmark seen with international eyes

The Worktrotter books

Business-Dances with Danes. Decoding Danish work cultureBusiness-Dances with Danes

For those working with Danes and those trying to find work in Denmark.
This book is also aimed at those Danes who want to become conciously aware of the Danish workplace culture.

Find out how to decode Danish work culture, avoid pitfalls and know how you can bring your messages across when working with Danes. 


The Worktrotter's Guide to Denmark

For current and future newcomers to Denmark.

A practical step-by-step guide about living and working in Denmark. Save time, nerves and money. Be smart and do things right - right from the start.



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