How not to get lost in the Danish workplace

The Danish workplace is always a tough nut to crack. This month, Natália Sepitkova spoke with Kay Xander Mellish, an American expat, author, and podcast host in Denmark, about how to avoid getting lost in the Danish workplace.

Photographs: Kay Xander Mellish

Text: Natália Sepitkova

Kay Xander Mellish, an American living in Denmark, has a CV that includes some of Denmark’s largest companies, including Carlsberg and Danske Bank. She is the voice behind the “How to Live in Denmark” podcast and the author of several books about Danish working culture and working with Danes.

As an American, what surprised you about the Danish way of working and work environment?

The US is a highly competitive environment - and I had been working in Manhattan, which is one of the most competitive places in the US - so I was accustomed to taking an aggressive approach to getting things done, which didn’t make sense in the more team-oriented atmosphere in Denmark.

The Danish way of working is also highly influenced by the welfare state; people pay a lot of taxes to support the security network that protects them during tough times. That means that pay cheques and bonuses are less of a priority, because the government takes such a big chunk of your income.

What advice can you give to avoid getting lost in the Danish workplace?

One of the hardest things to do as an international is also one of the most important: maintain the aspects of your culture that you value while you live and work in Denmark, and don’t give up the things that make you who you are. We’re guests here, and it's not up to us to impose our way of doing things on the Danish workplace, but we’re also not Danish, and we don’t have to pretend we are. You can keep what you love about your home culture, and some aspects of that culture will be a pleasant surprise to Danes.

For example, the positivity, energy, and openness that I think characterise American culture can be a great thing to bring to a Danish company. We Americans love to give compliments, and a lot of Danes (and non-Danes) can wither from a lack of positive feedback here. I like to celebrate success, tell people when they’ve done something well, and acknowledge good intentions even when things don’t work out as planned. However, something I had to learn to drop was the American-style competitiveness and drive for individual achievement and personal recognition, which is not appreciated in a Danish workplace. Americans love to compete, whereas Danes love to collaborate.

What should internationals prepare for when they find themselves in a Danish work team?

Lots of talking! The Danes are so intent on equality that they want to make sure everyone has their say, and that can take a while. If you come from a hierarchical culture – and most cultures are much more hierarchical than Denmark – it can be a big step to realise that you must treat everyone as an equal, whether it is the coffee lady, the student helper, or the big boss. A lot of newcomers put a foot wrong by being sharp and demanding with people below them on the corporate ladder, or unctuous and simpering to people above them. Both are huge turn-offs to their Danish colleagues.

What are the most common faux pas they might experience if they haven't had a similar experience before?

The most common faux pas I have seen by far is newcomers thinking they need to work extra hours to prove they are committed to the job. With notable exceptions, like peak seasons and project launches, you don’t have to work beyond the hours you are paid for in Denmark. If you do, you should get compensatory time off. Danes really value their free time; it’s one of the few things the government can’t tax! They take every day of their vacation, with their manager’s encouragement.

What are the unwritten rules of the Danish workplace?

You’ll receive fewer direct orders from your manager than you would in many other working cultures. Instead, you’ll be expected to figure out what needs to be done and do it. This is overwhelming for some newcomers, who are used to getting instructions, carrying out those instructions, and then waiting for the next set of instructions. But it can be exhilarating to someone with skill and drive who wants to put their ideas into practice.

In addition, Danish managers are much more open to being challenged than bosses in many other countries. In fact, they expect it – they’ve hired you for your expertise and they want you to share that expertise. They will be more annoyed if you knew they were going in the wrong direction and didn’t tell them.

Many foreigners in Denmark prefer to seek out an international team because they feel more secure and safe there. But isn't it better to work with Danes for proper integration into the community?

To be honest, it depends on what your goal is. If you just want to make some money, build your career, and then return to your home country or go on to advance your career in another location, then an international team is fine. If you think you might like Denmark to be your long-term home, then yeah, it’s necessary to spend more time with the Danes and learn Danish.

You’ll never be 100% Danish, though, nor should you feel obligated to try. The goal is just to accept the basic values of the country – egalitarianism and the welfare state – and then figure out how you fit in.

Does the Law of Jante work in Danish workplaces, or is it just an outdated ideology?

One of the funny things about Denmark is that we recruit the best and brightest from all over the world, and then when they arrive, we're like, “Yeah, nobody likes individual excellence here. It’s all about the team.”

I would say that in a Danish workplace, you're expected to do your work and do it well but not call attention to yourself. This can be tricky if you spent your entire life excelling at school and your early jobs and perhaps trying to do well to honour your family, which is a concept the Danes don’t really understand.

How can internationals "shine" in the Danish collective despite the Law of Jante?

One of the interesting things about Denmark is that, while you're not supposed to be ambitious for yourself, it's fine to be ambitious for your projects. So, if you drive fabulous projects that meet customer needs and not incidentally make money for the company, you are golden. Of course, you're technically just part of the project group, not an individual actor. But everyone knows in a group who is doing most of the heavy lifting, and people talk, so if you have great talent, your name will get around. That’s why I always emphasise how important it is never to make an enemy in the Danish workplace, or in Denmark in general. It is a very small country, and even smaller within specific industries. You will meet the same people again and again.

What are your tips on how to fit in and become popular among your Danish colleagues?

Be incredibly reliable. Be on time, be on time with projects, and get the details right. Don’t fail to produce and then come up with a bunch of excuses. You’re given so much trust when you’re hired, but it’s so easy to lose it. If you’re having problems with a delivery, be proactive and let people know long before the deadline so they can help you. Ask for help when you need it! In addition, do your best to handle Danish humour, although it isn’t always easy, because they can be really harsh. But when they make fun of you, it means they’ve accepted you into their circle.

Many internationals say it’s hard to make friends with their Danish colleagues.

It can be hard because there is a strong division between personal and professional life in Denmark – Danes like to keep them separate. In addition, I think that we need to understand that, as newcomers, we are coming into a place where people have been living their whole lives. They have been building up relationships since they were born – at school, at university, in sports clubs and in previous jobs. That’s why my number one piece of advice to newcomers who want Danish friends is to find a Dane who comes from another part of Denmark. He or she has left many of their old friends and family relationships behind too and is going to be more open to making new friends.