Work better together
across cultures
Live Danish Work Culture Presentation or Workshop
With Kay Xander Mellish
Danish work culture – for internationals AND Danes
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Understanding your cultural expectations at work
Working together across cultures involves a great deal of managing expectations.
What does this person from a different culture expect of me, and why?
Once these expectations are out in the open, we can work together better.
Internationals in Denmark have expectations based on:
- their own country’s work culture
- their educational structure
- their previous jobs
Internationals may expect a strong, commanding boss. They may believe it is necessary to work long hours or skip vacations in order to prove their worth to the company.
But Danes have their own expectations, based on Danish work culture.
Danes expect that their colleagues will put the team first – not their own careers. And they expect colleagues to speak up when they disagree with an idea – even when the person advancing that idea is their own boss.
Does your company or organization involve Danes and internationals working together?
Kay can create a presentation or cross-cultural workshop that will help everyone discuss their expectations in an entertaining, honest, and useful environment.
Onboarding for Groups of Newcomers
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Tailored Workshops for International Teams
Many Danish companies hire groups of newcomers all at once, particularly when there is a major but defined project to be completed, such as the construction of a factory.
These highly-trained specialists can feel lost in a Danish working environment.
- Bringing in Kay as part of the welcome process can help smooth the process of creating teamwork with their Danish colleagues.
- We can explain how Danes emphasize individual autonomy and downplay hierarchy – not every decision needs to be approved by the Danish big boss!
- When things go wrong, the Danish way is to figure out the cause and fix it, not figure out who can be blamed.
In addition, we can explain the social aspects of Danish work culture.
Danes tend to avoid small talk – at least, they like to work first and party later – but they also expect everyone to show up and enjoy the team lunches, which are often only 30 minutes long!
The Danish value of “trust” often means Danes trust newcomers to simply know the Danish way of doing things – which isn’t always the case.
Hiring Kay early in the process can help avoid misunderstandings later on.
Understand Danish work culture and Danish daily life
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Tailored Cross-Cultural Training for Expats
Bringing an executive or specialist to Denmark from elsewhere in the world is a big step – and an expensive step. It’s crucial that both the new arrival and their family feel comfortable in their new home.
Kay can work directly with executives to help them understand Danish work culture – and daily life in Denmark.
Kay offers a “new in Denmark” presentation that can be delivered virtually – and possibly before your new team member ever leaves home – to explain the basics of day-to-day life in Denmark.
- What is MobilePay?
- Do I need a license for my bicycle?
- Do I need winter clothing, and if so, what?
- How can I make Danish friends?
These are some of the questions Kay has been asked during her sessions with newly arrived professionals in Denmark.
Spouses and adult children are also welcome to join the training. The quicker the family adapts to Denmark, the happier the executive will be.
Book Kay to help your new arrival adjust and thrive.
US work culture vs Danish work culture
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Danish–American Cultural Differences Presentation
How can Danes survive and thrive when working with the energetic, excitable Americans?
And how can Americans better understand Danish flat hierarchy, Janteloven, and humor?
Kay Xander Mellish – an American who has lived in Denmark for more than a decade – delivers insights and strategies for how the two nationalities can work better together.
Based on her books “Working with Americans: Tips for Danes” and “Working with Danes: Tips for Americans” Kay will help Danish and American teams, colleagues, and customers co-operate more smoothly.
Tailor a Danish work culture presentation to your group
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Hire Kay Xander Mellish for Virtual or In‑Person Training
Kay can tailor a Danish work culture presentation to your group and your objectives.
A former journalist, Kay can interview selected people in your organization to find out where the pain points are, then address them in a speech or workshop.
An eager traveller, Kay has spoken all over Denmark and throughout Europe on topics as diverse as Danish work culture for IT specialists (Poland) to Danish companies’ flexibility for parents (Portugal) to Danish design from a corporate perspective (Hong Kong).
Kay can run a virtual presentation for your team located anywhere in the world.
Easy, enjoyable party event for multicultural teams
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The How to Live in Denmark Game Show
Looking for a fun event for your company or organization?
Kay’s very first presentation, originally launched in 2014, has been a hit from Aalborg to Esbjerg to Copenhagen.
We use the format of TV game shows – which are popular around the world – to put participants at their ease and get them interacting with each other.
“How To Live in Denmark Jeopardy” is one of our most popular games, along with “Who Wants to Pay Topskat?” (our version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”) and the mind-reading game, “What Would the Danes Say?”
The game is in English and can be tailored to last from 30 minutes to 90 minutes. We can also personalize the show for your group by making one of the question categories about your team, location, or company.
It’s a great way for internationals and Danes to relax and have fun together.
Contact Kay
Or contact me through LinkedIn
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