Life in Denmark

These are expressions Danes resent

You want to do well at work but find it difficult to understand the terms. Danes often say something that doesn’t quite express what they mean. Here are expressions you need to be aware of – not to use!

Cracking the code of saying the right thing at the Danish workplace (photo: Pixabay)

The Copenhagen Post

Nov 2, 2024

“I hear what you’re saying.”This somewhat harmless expression is not what Danes likes to hear in the workplace.It expresses a diplomatic recognition of another point of view, without necessarily agreeing.According to a member survey in the trade union DJØF – so it is not scientifically proven – “I hear what you say” comes out as […]

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Signe Biering, an executive coach trained in psychology with a background in diplomacy, explains how over-reliance on intuition in decision-making can hinder cross-cultural collaboration. She highlights Denmark’s cultural tendency to trust gut feelings and authenticity but warns of its risks in diverse teams. Biering advocates for leaders to challenge instincts, embrace differences, and balance intuition with analytical thinking to foster trust, collaboration, and growth.
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“Without internationals, we wouldn’t have the people we need,” says Fujifilm Diosynth Biotechnologies

Fujifilm’s Hillerød facility thrives with a diverse workforce, employing over 1,800 people from more than 65 nationalities. Morten Munk, Director of Global Alliance Management, highlights how the company’s rapid growth relies on attracting international talent due to Denmark’s limited pool of scientific professionals.

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