Working in the UK as a European? 🇪🇺 Adapt to cultural differences with these communication tips 🇬🇧

Charlotte from France has just started a new and exciting job in London. She attends a big meeting on her first day, and one of her new colleagues doesn't understand a point her manager makes.

The colleague says, "Sorry, I don't seem to follow what you said." In France, Charlotte would have said, "Could you please explain that differently?"

Later that week, her colleague asked her to check something they wrote: "If you're not busy, could you please take a look at this report?" In France, they would have said, "Could you please check this for me?"

Charlotte wonders, "What's going on? Why are people asking so indirectly for things and apologising so much?"

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While the UK and Europe are geographically close, there are some differences in working culture between them, like indirectness and extreme politeness. Make your transition to working life in the UK go more smoothly with these cross-cultural communication tips.

Many Europeans prefer direct communication, seeing it as honest and efficient. If you were to try this in Britain, it would come across as rude and aggressive. Instead, you should adopt a more indirect approach.

For example, imagine that you're unhappy with a colleague's work.

• Phrased directly, as many Europeans would say it: "I'm afraid this does not quite align with our expectations."

• Phrased indirectly, as many Brits would say it: "I think we need to adjust this to better fit the client's expectations."

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Tactful Phrasing

In the UK, it's normal to phrase things less directly, as that will seem more polite to the person listening — especially if you want to give bad news or criticism. Here are some phrases that British people tend to use that could be a little more comfortable for the person listening:

• "I was wondering if..."

• "Perhaps..."

• "It might be worth looking at."

Being Polite

British people are famous for their politeness. This is another area of cross-cultural communication that you'll have to adapt to. In the UK, people tend to say "please" and "thank you" a lot. A request without a please will be considered a demand, and people will think you're rude.

One of the main cultural differences between the UK and Europe is that people tend to over-apologise. In Britain, "sorry" isn't an admission of guilt but a way to help people feel more comfortable in certain situations.

Here are some examples of when Brits will use "sorry":

• They don't understand what you mean: "I'm sorry, I'm not quite sure I understood that."

• They want to ask you a question: "Sorry, but do you have a moment to talk about tomorrow's meeting?"

• When they bump into you: "I'm so sorry, didn't see you there!"

Small talk is an important part of communication in the UK. It's normal to spend the first five minutes of a meeting making small talk. It's done to show politeness.

Here are some common topics that people like to talk about:

• the weather

• how bad the journey to work was

• what you did last weekend

• what you'll do next weekend

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Inappropriate Topics for Small Talk

• politics

• money

• religion

• the other person's appearance

While there is no absolute situation not to use small talk, there are some important cues that the person wants it to end:

• reduced eye contact

• short answers

• looking at their watch or phone

For more information about small talk in the UK, check out this blog from British English Teacher Roy.

Humour is an important part of any culture to understand. The key with British humour is not to take yourself too seriously.

Self-Deprecation

People will often laugh and make jokes at their own expense. Here are a few examples.

• Regarding mistakes: "I make snails look speedy!"

• Regarding ability: "I couldn't run a bath, let alone a race."

• Regarding appearance: "I got dressed in the dark this morning."

While this may seem strange to you at first, the ability to joke about yourself in the UK is taken as a sign of confidence.

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Deadpan Sarcasm

British people tend to be very sarcastic and usually say it with a straight face. Here are a few examples:

• When someone makes a mistake: "Nice one!"

• When someone gives a terrible idea: "You're full of good ideas, aren't you?"

• When ignoring a stupid comment: "Right, that was brilliant."

In the UK, humour is an important tool for bonding and defusing tension.

While many European cultures have a clear divide between work and the rest of their lives, it's more blurred in the UK. Many organisations may have a tradition of socialising in the pub after work. This is optional, but it's where real networking and relationship-building happen.

Concerns You May Have

• Drinking alcohol: It's not necessary to drink alcohol, as many people in the UK would choose not to drink, especially if they're driving.

• Staying out late: It's not necessary to stay out really late. Just going for one or two drinks is OK.

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Showing up will go a long way to creating a good impression with your British colleagues and building positive relationships with them.

Going to work in the UK is an exciting adventure. If you learn about cross-cultural communication and working habits before you arrive in the UK, you'll have an easier transition. By understanding and adapting to the cultural differences between the UK and Europe, you'll get along better with your British colleagues and have a more enjoyable time.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Here are a few resources to help you get ready for your new adventure in the UK: