Tips for Working with US Americans

We're happy to share with you our helpful advice and suggestions for working more effectively with US Americans by better understanding their cultural values and style.

1.Just Do It. US Americans tend to have a ‘just do it’ attitude and show a pragmatic style when making decisions. Decisions which are made quickly and involving a certain level of risk are accepted and expected. Less information may be required to make the decision. More information is likely to come after the initial decision has been made.

2. Why Not? When deciding whether or not to do something, US Americans tend to ask themselves why not. Why not try something new, take a risk and perhaps fail? The US American culture is a trial-and-error culture.  Learning through failure is part of the US American way.

3. Agree to Disagree.  While US American communication style tends to be direct, some may understand the style as very indirect when dealing with negative or critical information. Agreeing to disagree on a particularly sensitive or personal issue can happen in the US to maintain the relationship and preserve harmony. Such a communication style can sometimes be confusing as it is not a ‘direct’ method of dealing with conflict or disagreement.

4. What do you do? Accomplishment and success is a strong US American value. This can be seen in resume styles as well as in interviewing questions. While the quality of experiences is important, so is the quantity of those experiences, both personally and professionally. Taking risks, trying out new careers, hobbies and learning from them to add to ones’ accomplishments is a key element in understanding the US American drive for change, success and progress.

5. I, Me, I. US American culture values individualism and thinking for themselves. This doesn’t mean US Americans aren’t willing to offer a helping hand. What it does mean is not giving up control of one’s life and one’s destiny to others and being able to make one’s own decision as free as possible based on personal choice.

Caterpillar Spirit’s trainings, workshops and coaching programs provide valuable strategies, tips and support to manage the challenges mentioned above. If  you or your team are experiencing some of these challenges and looking for support, contact us to learn more. We look forward to hearing from you.