Kay Xander MellishExpert on Danish business culture

"Big Arm Movements" and losing your temper on the job in Denmark #workindenmark #danishculture

14 Aug 2024 · 1 min

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In Danish workplaces, raising your voice or gesturing wildly to make a point reads as childish and untrustworthy. Danes remember these outbursts and tell others about them. In a small country, a reputation for losing your temper spreads fast and sticks.

Chapters

The How to Work in Denmark audiobook is now available. And in chapter 15, we talk about what the Danes call big arm movements. In a lot of cultures, it's a sign of enthusiasm and commitment that you sometimes raise your voice or maybe wave your arms around to make a point, or even lose your temper entirely if it's for a noble cause or if someone has been treated unfairly. But that is not true in Denmark, where raising your voice or losing your temper is seen as a sign that you are childish and cannot control yourself and are probably very untrustworthy. In addition, the person you've raised your voice with will never forget it, and they will tell their friends. You never want to make an enemy in a country as small as Denmark.