Chapter 3: Understanding Denmark

Denmark is culturally similar to the other Nordic countries but different from most other countries. Even senior diplomats with a long record of deployments can find Denmark a challenging country to work in.

The diplomat’s biggest challenges regarding advocacy in Denmark can roughly be divided into three categories: culture, language, and media. There are significant cultural differences between their home country and Denmark for many diplomats, both on the social and administrative levels. This can create tensions and challenges. Diplomats and expats can use the specific knowledge and insights given in the section on culture below to overcome the cultural challenges. The language is also a difficult barrier to overcome. Learning Danish can be difficult considering that many Danes have excellent English knowledge. However, learning the language can be worth the effort as there are not many media or parts of the central administration that communicate purposefully in English, as will be addressed in the section about Language below. Finally, the media has a different form in Denmark than in many other parts of the world; it is independent, critical, and proud (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019) and not always interested in other than national news. The section on the Press can give a better idea of how to use the media. Civil servants can also form a challenge when working in Denmark. These civil servants come from different ministries and municipalities, so diplomats will have to learn and accept how the administrative system works in Denmark. This will be addressed in the section on 18 of 60

Civil Servants. The same goes for politicians in both parliament and local government.

Then there are the trade unions. Trade unions play a significant role in all Nordic countries, and their influence should not be underestimated. They generally have a huge member base and thus represent a large portion of the voters. The unions regularly influence the politicians and the law-making process, making them very important for diplomats to understand.

Every three years, the unions, the government, and the employer's interest groups engage in collective bargaining. Usually, it starts with the private employees, then the public employees. These negotiations can be quite chaotic and sometimes end in strikes lasting days or weeks. However, it secures fundamental rights for workers in Denmark.

As mentioned, the unions also work as interest groups influencing policymaking in both the national Parliament and the EU. Expats and diplomats who seek to grasp how the Danish, or Scandinavian, flexicurity model works will benefit from engaging with some larger unions like FOA or 3F. The interest groups for the employers also are very powerful political players, with "Dansk Industri" (Confederation of Danish Industry) being the largest, followed by "Dansk Erhverv" (Danish Chamber of Commerce). These two groups regularly invite diplomats to briefings on the Danish industry and future areas of export. Attending the yearly or so briefings and, in general stay in touch with these two organizations can open many doors and provide

much information needed for the everyday work of the Embassy.

Culture

The Danish culture differs from that of many other countries in that communication is often informal and direct and is characterized by wide use of banter and humoristic irony. This should not be taken as an insult; it is merely how Danes interact with each other, no matter the organizational level. This can be seen in the Danish Parliament's weekly debates, where parliamentarians and ministers joke and use this kind of humor. This is shown in the fact that Danes usually call their Prime Minister by her/his first name. Although reporters sometimes slip up and call them by their first name, the royal family is always addressed formally.

The cultural differences are evident in Danish stakeholder meetings, including the media, the central administration, the Folketing, and the population. The direct tone, the purposeful rational meeting culture, and the generally reserved Danish personality are barriers that are very difficult for foreign diplomats to overcome, even if they are very experienced. In Denmark, formal agendas have not allotted time for small talk (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019). So, always arrive five minutes early to your meetings to have some time to talk about non-formal things.

New diplomats in Denmark will often contact the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs when they get an assignment from home. The expectation is that the Ministry of Foreign 20 of 60

Affairs can help provide the information needed to solve it. However, this is not the case in Denmark, where such sought-after competencies are spread out across various ministries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has a more coordinating role in interministerial initiatives. The Protocol unit especially plays a central role as its responsibilities are to receive the diplomats, help them get registered in the Danish system, and assist with practical issues, and to some extent arranging meetings at the political level. However, this unit does not have the resources to take care of the embassies' interests in relation to the other ministries. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not have the competencies to dictate sector ministries (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can’t solve these issues: whom should you call? The central administration is a jungle of centers, offices, departments, and agencies that can be difficult to navigate, even for an experienced and driven diplomat. The fact that the English version of the official government websites is often inferior to the Danish version does not facilitate the diplomat’s mission. This emphasizes the challenge of finding out which office to go to to get an answer to your question or to have a meeting with the right person (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

When a connection has finally been established with the right office and the right person, it will often be a specialist 21 of 60

or chief consultant that takes the meeting in the first place, sometimes even a low-level clerk. In many cases, this is unfamiliar to the diplomats used to meetings at the executive or political level. The reason for the approach in Denmark is simple; the executives do not have the necessary in-depth knowledge about the subject and would need to be filled in by the specialist or clerk. It is, therefore, more efficient to cut out the middleman and go straight to the source. When it comes to actual decision-making, the higher-level executives and/or political level will get involved.

The Public Administration in Denmark is characterized by pragmatism and a consensus-seeking approach. This often means that a multitude of stakeholders is involved in the preparation of a bill or project. Simultaneously, the administration is incredibly rational in purpose; there is no time to talk about other topics. An ambassador may want to take a broader approach in meetings to discuss the direction and development of relationships. This is, however, too broad and undefined for the Danish civil service, which needs a clear agenda (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

Cultural do’s and don’ts

Do

• Take time to socialize with your colleagues or business partners over coffee or lunch. • Spend time on “hygge” and having a good time together. The Danes like it to be enjoyable and fun to go to work. “Hygge” means enjoying each other’s company, having a cozy time.

• Be on time. This goes for everything, from public transportation to all meetings. Better five minutes early than five minutes late. Being early means there is time for some small talk, and the meeting can start on time. • Accept that the Danish administrative structure is more decentralized than most other countries. • Contact sector ministries rather than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. • Hire locals to understand the Danish culture better or reach out to get a cultural translation. • Accept that contact persons in the Danish Public Administration will usually be on a specialist level and not a management or political level. This is not a sign of disrespect.

Don’t

• Necessarily wear formal clothing when you work in Denmark (unless you work in a more traditional workplace). It might be a good idea to inquire about the workplace's dress code, but generally, the Danes dress less formally for work than people in most other countries. • Smoke too much. Smoking is not allowed indoor in Danish workplaces, and in some places, you cannot just take a cigarette break when you feel like it. Ask what the rules are if you are a smoker. • Expect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to fight your battles in regard to the other ministries.

Working with these do's and don'ts can significantly improve the understanding of Denmark and clarify how to interact with Danes.

Language

The Danish language can be a barrier. Although diplomats usually speak fluent English, you do not necessarily have access to all the information you might need in your diplomatic work. Most news media in Denmark are exclusively in Danish, and the English-language news media such as Copenhagen Post are quite limited in their coverage of events and political initiatives. If diplomats want to follow the legislative work in the Parliament (Folketinget), it is necessary to speak Danish. Only a few ceremonial events are also translated to English (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019). Besides, the shameful truth is that it is often easier to handle inquiries in Danish in a busy central administration. This means that requests in English get pushed, which is not ideal for diplomats who often have a deadline. Knowledge of the Danish language also opens up a wealth of interaction opportunities with the Danes, e.g., for festivals, flea markets, or market days at the local mall. They are all good opportunities to talk to Danes, learn more about the culture and what the people think about a given topic or the diplomat’s sending country (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

Language do’s and don’ts

Do

• Learn Danish. • Remember that everyone can be addressed with the informal “du” (you). • Participate/contribute to discussions and debates. • Accept that banter and irony are an integral part of Danish “humor.” • Go out and engage with the Danes locally.

Don’t

• Use formal language unless in a clear formal setting. Danes do not use titles like "sir," and the workplace language is often less formal than in the rest of the world. • Get offended by the directness of Danes. The Danes use first names and say ‘du’ (you) when they address each other both in general and at the workplace.

Following these few pieces of advice can build confidence in the partnerships, earn credibility and clarity.

The Press

The Press can have a large or a small impact on society, and it can be state-controlled or independent. In a country like Denmark, the Press is often referred to as the state's fourth power. The Press's most important task is to be critical of the powerholders and decision-makers in Denmark. It is a task that the Press cherishes and takes very seriously.

Domestic policy issues of any kind can quickly get a platform in the media. It is far more difficult for foreign policy events to get picked up by the press corps, especially if they do not affect Denmark. The Press finds it difficult to take an interest in other countries' conditions unless this other country in the United States, China, Russia, or another similar superpower. Many diplomats find that the ambassador's status does not automatically give access to the Press in Denmark. This can be frustrating and difficult to work with, especially since many are used to societies where status has a greater significance than is the case in Denmark (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

A good relationship with the public and the Danish population can help diplomats get through to the decision-makers. However, only very few ambassadors have a network among journalists, and only a handful of diplomats are visible in the Danish media. There are several reasons for this: some are simply not interested in working via the media, and others have difficulty working with the Danish Press that can often seem critical, uninterested, or dismissive. When diplomats work with the media, it is important to clarify precisely what they can contribute in terms of statements and background. Often, diplomats have an in-depth knowledge of their home country, which can be excellent sources of background material and perhaps history. This country-specific knowledge becomes less relevant in of 26 60

relation to a quick comment on events, as they might need to confer with their home country first to confirm their opinion and get assured in what they can and cannot talk about (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

A diplomat who wants to work with the Press can choose to be interviewed for a portrait or contact the smaller, local media around the country to spread positive stories about his home country and cooperation with Denmark.

Most diplomats are close to invisible in the Danish media landscape. Apart from the reasons mentioned above, this is also due to the lack of language skills at the different embassies and employees' lack of knowledge about media. It can also be a result of the secret or tedious nature of working at an embassy. Diplomats could win a lot from making a more prominent appearance in the media. The diplomat should be honest and approachable, tell the story about getting to Denmark and remember to say something positive about Danes and Denmark – that always wins. The Embassy could also present itself as a background source to the news media, giving background to development in their country or other facts without becoming too political. What is always worth remembering when talking to journalists in Denmark is that they are very proud of their profession and decide which story to print.

Media do’s and don’ts

Do

• Be friendly and polite. • Be on time.

• Accept the independence of the media. • Be clear about what you can talk about and, most importantly, what you can’t talk about. • Be quick to respond to journalists; otherwise, they will move on. • Offer to give background material or historical insights. • Tell positive stories about Danes or Denmark in relation to the sending country.

Don’t

• Use too formal language. • Use titles like "sir." • Get offended by the directness of Danes. • Get offended by the critical approach of reporters.

Working with the Press can build the journalists confidence and perceptiveness of different interests.

Politicians

Diplomats can have many reasons to connect and engage with Danish parliamentarians. These could be to stay informed on specific topics or to try to seek influence on foreign policy. The Danish Parliament can block the government's foreign policy, which means that Danish parliamentarians are interesting in diplomats. However, Danish politicians, much like the rest of the Danish society, can be very pragmatic, direct, and hard to approach. Danish politicians rarely want to participate in long ceremonies; they are more interested in getting straight to the point. Unlike civil servants, politicians do not require a fixed and formal

agenda; they are usually willing to talk about all kinds of political matters.

Some diplomats might find Danish politicians distant and unfriendly when they do not accept an invitation to a national day celebration or dinner with the Ambassador. Again, it is the pragmatic culture that is at play here. The politicians are busy, and while participating in a party or dining with an ambassador might be fun, it is not practical, and there might well be more efficient ways to get results. There is not much time for building friendships and personal relations during the active part of the year – perhaps the summer (July – August) would bear more success as the Parliament is in recess during the summertime. However, the politician might want to spend this time on holiday with family and friends.

Politicians in Denmark dislike strict protocol but love talking about politics and not just foreign affairs. They are usually in the political game because they have one or more causes that engage them. To attract a busy politician's attention, it might help identify their specific causes and set up a meeting with those causes on the (informal) agenda.

Political do’s and don’ts

Do

• Be friendly and polite. • Coordinate with other embassies on issues concerning regional matters. • Arrange meetings for regional embassies and get updates from senior officials from the Danish Public Administration. • Have a clear agenda for the meeting. • Keep it somewhat informal. • Participate in “Folkemødet” at Bornholm. ”Folkemødet” (”The People’s Meeting”) is a festival for democracy and dialogue. Thousands of events serve to engage both the general public and decision-makers from municipalities, government, unions, organizations, and larger companies.

Don’t

• Use formal language. • Use titles like “sir”. • Be strictly formal • Expect politicians to attend parties, celebrations or dinners

Getting to work well with politicians can go a long way to strengthen the confidence-building, the comprehensiveness and the credibility of the diplomat and his/her Embassy.

Civil servants

In the Danish bureaucratic democracy, there is no way around the sector ministries, not even when it comes to foreign affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is no longer alone in pursuing foreign policy, and more and more departments have or are building up their international competencies in their area. It is thus essential for diplomats in Denmark to get familiar with the political-administrativeeconomic system in Denmark. Otherwise, it can be challenging to accomplish your mandate in Denmark. This task can seem vast, especially when the English-language websites often do not have the same information as the Danish ones. Hence, it can usually pay off for the embassies to have local employees (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019) or hire Danish experts for shorter or longer periods as they understand the political-administrative-economic system and can find the right contacts.

Also, it should be noted that due to the culture and structure of the Danish Public Administration, it is challenging to get a meeting without having a clear agenda. Danish ministers are cautious with their time and rarely accept social meetings without an agenda, even with ambassadors. This is not to be disrespectful; it is merely a pragmatic approach to time management. As mentioned above, the minister is unlikely to have the relevant in-depth knowledge and will refer to the more specialized managers or heads of sections. Due to this pragmatism, diplomats often find themselves in meetings with relative low-level managers or clerks. It is practical to talk with those with hands-on experience first, and then the minister will join when it comes to political negotiations. Much the same is true when it comes to municipalities.

Civil servant’s do’s and don’ts

Do

• Show initiative and independent thinking and come with constructive solutions. • Be friendly and polite. • Hire local staff or assistance. • Get familiar with the Danish political-administrativeeconomic system. • Have clear agendas with 1-2 main topics.

Don’t

• Use formal language. • Use titles like “sir”.

Getting to work well with civil servants can go a long way to strengthen the confidence-building, the comprehensiveness and the credibility of the diplomat and his/her Embassy.

Companies and unions

Danish culture does not regard the importance of social status. It is frowned upon to draw attention to one’s high social status; hence diplomats, including ambassadors, cannot expect special treatment due to their status. However, when visiting sites or companies' diplomats can expect to meet people who know their stuff and can explain it, typically someone who works with it every day, of 32 60

this is unlikely to be the CEO, though (s)he might join the tour or meeting.

The diplomats working in Denmark need to cast a wide net in Danish society and connect with private companies, interest organizations, and politicians at every level. It can be challenging and confusing due to a large number of possibilities. Through broad contact, the diplomat can get the best insights into the Danish culture and how the Danish welfare system, flexicurity, works.

New diplomats should also work hard to understand the Danish society's complexity that they will work in for the next few years; this includes the major unions and interest groups. Outside assistance can help if there are not already Danish employees or other local knowledge at the Embassy.

Companies and unions do and don’t

Do

• Be friendly and polite. • Take time to socialize. • Attend summits and engage with both the employer and the employees’ unions.

Don’t

• Use formal language. • Use titles like “sir”.

Working with companies, unions, and interest groups can further the national interest of the expat or Embassy through trade and provide a deeper understanding of Danish society.

Chapter 4: How diplomats can work in Denmark

Interest representation can be worked on in many ways in Denmark. Most days, diplomats go to work at the Embassy headed by an ambassador and work for their home country in the host country. Most of the time, it is an 8 AM to 4 PM job. The job can consist of several different types of tasks, and depending on the Embassy's size, a diplomat has one or more responsibilities. The most fundamental duties include consular services, information gathering for status reports, negotiation with the hosting country's government, and public and economic diplomacy. When diplomats want to pursue their country's interests in Denmark, they can do so the traditional way or the modern way – preferably a mix between the two approaches. The traditional way focuses on governments' relations while the modern way includes the public in the hosting country.

As it is today, the ambassadors gather in groups that typically recur all over the world. Regional and cultural characteristics usually define these groups as the embassies representing culturally or geographically close countries are more likely to unite in interaction with, e.g., the Danish government. This was especially visible during the Muhammad crisis of 2005 when a group of ambassadors from Muslim countries collectively presented a letter to the government (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019).

In Copenhagen, the most important diplomatic groups are the EU Group, the Nordic countries, the African countries, the Arab countries, the ASEAN countries, and the Latin American countries (Marcussen & Nielsen, 2019). Cooperation in these groups is advantageous for the individual countries as this can increase their ability to be heard in the Danish central administration. For example, a senior official is more likely to prioritize a group of ambassadors rather than a single ambassador. The disadvantages of working in a group are the difficulty of agreeing on an agenda and organizing a coordinated effort.

The following schematics will give a broad overview of the Danish political system with state, regions, and municipalities, as well as the layout of some of the core ministries, like the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities. After that, the do's and don’ts from the former chapter will be expanded upon in themes to give a better understanding of them.

The state is generally in charge of the broad national areas, such as police, defense, justice, and foreign policy. The state decides the economic framework for the regions and municipalities, and it is the state that collects taxes on behalf of both the state itself and the municipalities. The state also runs higher education institutions, like high schools and universities.

The regions are responsible for services and issues that the municipalities can't solve independently, like the hospital system, including psychiatry, general practitioners and specialists, regional growth and development, including nature, environment, employment, education, and culture.

The municipalities portfolio includes the social area, childcare, primary and secondary schools, elder care, health (dental care, home nursing, prevention, and social psychiatry), activation and employment projects for the unemployed, integration, supply and rescue services, nature and environment planning, libraries and local roads.

The Prime Minister's Office consists of a Political Secretariat and a Development and Coordination Secretariat focusing on coordinating the governmental policy strategy. The Prime Minister's Office also has five offices with capacity in foreign politics, economic politics, and domestic politics. The Prime Minister is also minister for the Press and, as such, works to ensure the freedom of the Press.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a united organization with competencies in foreign-, security-, Europe- and development politics. The ministry also works with export and 37 of 60

investment as well as public diplomacy (Udenrigsministeriet, 2020). The ministry is made up by five Centres: The Centre for Foreign Policy that consists of four offices: the Office of Asia, Latinamerica and Oceania, the Office for the Middle East and North Africa, the Office for Security Politics, and the Office for Techplomacy; The Centre for Development Policy with seven offices: the Office for Africa, Politics and Development, the Office for Evaluation, Learning and Quality, the Office for Financial Management, the Office for Green Diplomacy and Climate, the Office for Humanitarian Efforts, Civil Society and Engagement, the Office for Migration, Neighbouring areas and Stability, and the Office for Multilateral Collaboration and Policy; The Centre for Trade and Global Sustainability have four offices: the Office for Export, Innovation and GPA, the Office for Trade Politics and Analysis, Invest in Denmark, and the Office for Strategy, Policy and Quality; The Centre for European Affairs and the Arctic with four offices: the Office for Arctic and North America, the Office for EU-coordination and Nordic Collaboration, the Office for European Neighboring, and the EU-political Office; and finally a centre with support functions like citizen service (passport and visum) (Udenrigsministeriet, 2021).

can remove any doubts. The Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities consists of five centers and five agencies. While the names of the centers are largely self-explanatory, a short introduction

The Centre for Vision and Strategy consists of seven offices, incl. secretariats for the Green subcommittee and the subcommittee for Economy. The centre also has support offices for the higher executive and political level, a communications office, a strategy office, and the Press office. The Centre for Green Transition is home to the offices like Heat, Green Energy, Circular Economy, Electricity, and Critical Infrastructure. The Centre for Global Climate Action has four offices, the Office for Global Ambitions, the Office for Climate Neutral EU, the Office for EU and Green Transition, and the Office for Global Rules and Norms. The two other centres have six offices each and focus mostly on domestic issues. The Climate Council is an independent council charged with keeping an eye on the climate agenda's progression in relation to the Climate Law, which says Denmark should reduce CO2 emission by 70% by 2030. 39 of 60

THEMES OF INTERACTION, NAVIGATION AND EXPECTATION

The before-mentioned do's and don'ts will be expanded upon in themes to give a better understanding of them.

Interaction with Danish people means taking the time to socialize. Usually, Danes get together and talk over a cup of coffee (Danes are heavy coffee drinkers) or lunch. An excellent way to engage with neighbors can be, if you have kids, to let them play with the neighbors' kids and connect with the parents that way. Connecting with Danes also means getting to understand the term "hygge," which loosely translates into 'having a good/cozy time together. It is important for Danes that everything doesn't get too serious. Danes like to have fun, also at work. Hence, it is not uncommon to have social activities arranged by the workplace, and it is expected that everyone takes part in, at least some, of these activities. Having a good and fun time together also means that people loosen up and are less formal than other countries. For this reason, the tone is usually informal and on a first name basis – using formal language like 'sir' or 'madam' throws Danes of, and while it can make them treat you more formally, it also creates a distance that is not helpful for the working relationship. Since Danes are less formal, one should not be offended when they use direct and informal language in business talks. Danes are straightforward, honest, and straight to the point. If they disagree with something, they will tell you and be ready to discuss it until a compromise can be found.

While Danes are generally good at English, not many newspapers or public information is translated, the only tourism-related publications and the minimum for integration. So, if one is going to stay and work in Denmark, it is very beneficial to obtain a working knowledge of Danish. It will open up many information channels and make it easier to get access to people. As a diplomat, the yearly event "Folkemødet” (”The People’s Meeting”) on the island of Bornholm is of great interest. This is a festival for democracy and dialogue with several thousand events and attendees from all parts of political Denmark. This is where companies, the public, and politicians can meet informally and discuss all kinds of topics while getting a local brew. When working politically in Denmark, “Folkemødet” is a must-go.

Navigating the administrative and political system in

Denmark is like going into a maze. The Danish administrative structure is more decentralized than most other countries, and the civil servants have much power over both 41 of 60

formulating and implementing laws and decisions. The decentralization means that one should go to the ministry with a resort in a specific area rather than to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinates foreign politics on a meta-level, while the sector ministries also take care of their area internationally. So, the Ministry for Climate, Energy, and Utilities is in charge of everything that has to do with climate and energy negotiations internationally. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs assists with the framework and how the negotiations can fit with other parts of the Danish foreign policy agenda.

Finding a way through the maze that is the Danish Public Administration requires Danish language skills. The ministries' English websites do not go into too many details about each ministry's structure, making it very difficult to find the right centre or agency if one does not read Danish. It will be a very good investment for most companies or embassies to either hire local staff or obtain consulting assistance on a need-to basis to better understand Danish culture and find the right people to contact. When the right office has been located, it should be expected that the first meetings will be with lower-level civil servants, maybe lowlevel executives or specialists. This is not a sign of disrespect; it is simply practical. Let's say a diplomat contacts the Ministry of Climate, Energy, and Utilities to enquire about wind turbines. The meeting would not be with a higher executive with lots of management knowledge, but not about wind turbines, and the meeting would be with people who know about wind turbines – since that is what was asked for. Should the meeting have been with the high-level executive, the lower-level civil servant would have had to spend hours preparing the executive. In Denmark, it is seen 42 of 60

as more efficient simply going straight to the people who know about the topic in question. Should it come to negotiations, the higher executives and perhaps the political level will be brought in.

Embassies, who want regular updates on a specific area, could go together with other Embassies with similar interests, perhaps due to regional proximity, and arrange meetings with a senior official from the Danish Public Administration or the Unions or interest groups. This makes it more likely that the officials will make time to attend rather than three or four nearly identical meetings. In connection to this, Embassies should not expect politicians or civil servants to attend celebrations, parties, or dinners at the Embassy or with the Ambassador unless they can do it with multiple actors at the same time. The reason is that Danish politicians mainly focus on the domestic agenda. During the last ten years, the Press and social media have taken up more and more of their time, while at the same time, many political parties have had to cut down on staff.

The expected behavior in meetings and at the work-

place is important to know from the get-go. First of all, it is important to be on time. Pretty much everything is scheduled right from bus lines to meetings – so be on time. Many companies prioritize short and decisive meetings, which makes it important to start at the agreed time. Another fact that makes starting on time even more important is socializing. Usually, the first five minutes are for small talk and making sure everyone is ready – and then it is straight to business.

Danes do not like conflict, so be polite and friendly and should something arise, make sure to handle it quietly rather than ending up in an argument. As part of the conflict, avoidance is the tendency to discuss. Danes are ready and well prepared to discuss issues until an agreement can be reached, preferably an agreement that makes everyone happy. When deciding and debating at the workplace or meetings, everyone is expected to participate and contribute. This makes sure everyone gets heard and nobody left out – making reaching reasonable compromises easier.

When working with Danes, it would be good to show initiative and independent thinking. Showing up to a meeting with nothing new or no mandate is a waste of time and will make it harder to set up the next meeting. So, come prepared and show initiative and a willingness to bend towards a solution for everyone.

Diplomats or expats, who are used to work in an international setting, will have to get used to Danes' informal yet very professional behavior. As a very egalitarian society, Danes do not give much for titles, and the use of such is pretty much reserved for the royal family – if they remember it. Do not expect to be addressed with anything else than your first name or perhaps last name, depending on the formality of the situation. The informalness of Danes is reflected not only in language but also in how they dress. It is not uncommon to meet CEOs in jeans and sneakers; the same goes for politicians. Civil servants are usually dressed in something business casual. Formal business clothing is only used for special occasions.

The Danish media are very independent, direct, and proud as a profession. It is important as an expat or diplomat who might be dealing with the Press to accept the media's independence and not get offended by their critical approach. One way to get out ahead is to be very clear when scheduling appointments with journalists about what you can talk about and, most importantly, what you can’t talk about. This will help manage their expectations. Another critical thing to keep in mind when dealing with journalists is that they have a deadline – so be quick to respond. If a journalist, calls then there isn't time for waiting for an answer from the sending country – independent-ness is an asset here, with clear boundaries and a friendly approach. Often it can be challenging to respond to current situations for diplomats, as much will have to be cleared with the Ambassador or the sending country's home office. What diplomats can do is offer media outlets background material or historical insights to provide them with more precise knowledge when writing about a situation in the sending country. An important note here is not ever to lie or give propaganda-like information to Danish journalists. They will spot it right away or find out shortly and it will backfire. If you are not authorized to comment, keep it to that and clarify what you can discuss. As a bonus, it can give much positive attention to tell positive stories about Danes or Denmark in relation to the sending country.