Source: "The Swedish Toolkit"

Swedes need space

A lot of Space

Even cats noticed that

When you think about it,

Swedes are a little bit like wild cats

If you try to come close

To touch them

Or give them food

Swedes and wildcats will run straight back to the woods

You need to play a game

For a few weeks

or a few months

I called this a "frame activity"

Like playing a sport or being part of an organisation

You also need to leave space

And leave an exit door

An opportunity to escape

Then Swedes, just like wild cats, will come closer

Sit down

and accept to eat food with you

Welcome to Sweden

You may need a guide as an outsider

As much as Swedes themselves in order to understand better how they may be perceived by outsiders

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"The Swedes" and "Working with Swedes" present many of the unknown social rules in Sweden

By Julien S. Bourrelle

Book a lecture on www.juliensbourrelle.com 

Watch him on TED