Belgian Business Management Style

As has already been stated, the Belgian approach is characterised by a desire for compromise and the need to reach a workable, acceptable solution.

This approach is necessary in a country so beset with factionalism and regionalism – if people were to be dogmatic and pedantic, nothing would ever get done. Of course, one of the sometimes frustrating by-products of this somewhat laboured approach is that decisions take time and that change can be a painful process.

These gradualist sentiments are mirrored in the Belgian approach to management. It is important that issues are discussed and aired and that decisions are arrived at through a slow process of working towards an accommodation. Going in to Belgium and assuming that changes can be imposed overnight and without consultation would be folly and lead to future difficulties. As one senior Belgian manager said when being regaled with the merits of the latest management theory by an American colleague, ‘thats all very interesting and new, but you have to remember that some Belgian companies are older than the United States itself.’ Change does not happen quickly in Belgium!

Thus, managers need to be seen to be inclusive yet at the same time they must appear knowledgeable about their functional areas and also have clear views on direction and goals. The style is a complex mix of inclusiveness and management by direction. How does it work — it’s a Belgian compromise.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture.  Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Australia only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.

Author

This country-specific business culture profile was written by Keith Warburton who is the founder of the cultural awareness training consultancy Global Business Culture. 

Global Business culture is a leading training provider in the fields of cross-cultural communication and global virtual team working.  We provide training to global corporations in live classroom-based formats, through webinars and also through our cultural awareness digital learning hub, Global Business Compass.

This World Business Culture profile is designed as an introduction to business culture in Belgium only and a more detailed understanding needs a more in-depth exploration which we can provide through our training and consultancy services.