Why do the French spend so much time at the coffee machine?
The frequency and duration of coffee breaks in France may come as a surprise to foreigners, who may perceive them as a loss of productivity. But is this really the case?
The French attach great importance to interpersonal relationships in the professional context. They believe that we work better when we've created links, that networks are useful for moving projects forward, and that it's useful to spend time around the coffee machine or over lunch.
When people get along well, they trust each other and information flows better. Collaboration between departments is all the more influenced by the quality of relationships, as coordination procedures are underdeveloped and often governed by informal arrangements.
Video from our e-learning module:
France
Would you like to access the full video and our digital module?