Working with Norwegians

Your guidebook to the
work culture of Norway

Sean Percival presents his reflections and learnings, giving unique insights into the way Norwegians and Scandinavians do business. This outsider’s view is packed with tips and tricks so that foreigners and Norwegians can be better at doing business together.

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About the Author

Sean Percival is an American Venture Capitalist and author who has spent the last several years in Norway. Through his work in the Norwegian startup ecosystem, he has interacted with Norwegian businesses of all sizes and across every major national industry. His experience has shown him that business environments benefit greatly from international diversity and that multicultural companies are more competitive, more creative, and have more fun.

Who This Book is For

Expats

For foreigners living and working in Norway

Love Refugees

Recently moved to Norway for love? You’re going to need a guide (and a lot of wool!)

Norwegians

For Norwegians looking to better understand multi-cultural work environments

Corporations

As a welcome guide to new international staff working in Norway

Gifts

The ultimate gift for anyone doing business in Norway.

Still not convinced?

For Non-Norwegians

This is the greatest book EVER written about working with Norwegians. It’s better than all other crudely drawn books on the Norwegian culture. It will make you smarter, better looking, and more successful. You must have this book. Buy it now!

For Norwegians

This book is about working with Norwegians. It is not any better than other books, but some people believe it is good. Not excellent, but good enough. It tells you how you may be perceived at work. You can buy it if you want, but you do not need to.

What People Are Saying

For foreigners coming to Norway this is vital resource for understanding how to work with us. For the Norwegians this is the best book you can read at your cabin on a Friday morning along with your coffee and eggs.

Jørn S. Haanæs
Director, Oslo Business Region

Sean gives unique and valuable insights into what it’s like to work with Norwegians. His first hand experience and humorous approach makes for an enjoyable read. I wish I had a resource like this when I started working in Norway!

Barbara Hueppe
Former Head of Corporate Communications for Gelato and Mozilla

What’s Inside the Book

• Welcome to Norway! 
• Norwegian Values at Work
  • The Law of Jante in business
  • Working to live, not living to work
  • Corporate Ethics 
  • Being competitive in sports vs being competitive in business
• Working in Norway
  • Inside a Norwegian office
  • Corporate hierarchy
  • Speaking the language
  • How not to appear too American
  • Making business contacts in a shy country
  • Meeting room culture best practices
  • Coffee, waffles and brown cheese: The foods of Norwegian business
• Etiquette, Gifting and Mixing Business with Pleasure
  • Using titles and first names
  • Who’s paying for dinner?
  • Dressing for success
  • Norwegian drinking culture and Julebord
  • Romance in the workplace
• Dealmaking in Norway
  • Building trust 
  • How Norwegians manage risk
  • How to operate on Norwegian time
  • Negotiating techniques
  • Contracts and the fine print
  • The art (and power) of the handshake
• Why Norway? A Closing
• Glossary of Norwegian Business Terms
• Typical Norwegians You Meet in the Workplace

Latest Blog Posts

• Contracts in Norway and ‘fine print’
• Is Norway Open? Current Travel, Quarantine and Testing Requirements
• Will Ferrell Hates Norway ?
• Building Trust in Norway
• Who’s Paying for Dinner in Norway?

It’s a Norwegian’s nightmare,
but let’s get social