Software Developer

“I find it demoralizing working with the Israelis. They are so pessimistic; always sure nothing will work or come out right. Instead of motivating the team, they bring us down. And when there is a success – they don't reward you. They act like they expected things to work out, and it is no big deal. They are already complaining about the next project.”

IT Engineer

“I don't know how the managers there get any work done. Every time I don't give my Israeli colleagues a positive answer, they cc their supervisor, who goes over my head to my supervisor. Aside from making things complicated and unpleasant for me, it just wastes time and energy. I spend all my time justifying my responses, instead of doing my job. Then they get upset that I don't meet the deadline, and that I'm not so nice to them the next time they ask for something”

Project Manager at a high tech Fortune 500 company

“I always thought this cross cultural stuff wasn't relevant to us. After all, Israelis and American are very similar. It's not like working with China or Korea, and we've been working together for years.

All this changed the first time I participated in a conference call with Israel after I relocated to our Santa Clara plant. I saw the Americans' reaction to the Israelis. I knew the guys in Israel. I knew their intentions, and for the first time I saw the impact of what and how they said things. It didn't come out like they intended. It was a disaster – nothing made sense, nothing sounded right. All of a sudden the Israelis sounded aggressive, rude and confrontational.

The Americans held back, became defensive – nothing was accomplished. I felt as if everything was lost; there was no way we were going to meet our goals.”

Head of Finance in the Israeli branch of a start-up company

“I absolutely hate working with the Americans. They are so stuck on their procedures, they see nothing else. They aren't concerned with the big picture. If you don't follow the exact process, they aren't going to recognize what you did.

Every time they don't want to do something, they use “Sarbanes Oxley” as a shield. Instead of doing some work and thinking creatively, they hide behind the rules and regulations. It's like a wall you can't get through.”

What really happened to an Israeli CFO sent from Israel to the US….

“On one of my first days on the job – I was talking to the CEO in the corridor. I saw the VP of Marketing at the other end of the office. Since the discussion concerned his job I called him over to come and join us gesturing with my hand. The next day I was called into HR and told that there a complaint has been filled against me by the VP and my job is at risk.”

Also heard….

•  “Why don't they listen?”
•  “They don't understand!”
•  “They are square.”
•  “They are out of control…”

Contact us to find out how we can help you turn cultural diversity into a business advantage!