| Key areas of culture gaps that cause friction, misunderstandings and loss of trust | Most other culture’s perceptions of Israelis | Israeli perceptions of most other cultures |
|---|
| Communication style (verbal and written) | They are aggressive, offensive, pushy, don’t listen | They don’t say what they mean, they are ‘pushovers’ |
| Attitude towards Hierarchy / Status | They disrespect authority, make us look bad by going above our heads, we can’t tell who is in charge and how decisions are made | They are petty bureaucrats, afraid to take responsibility, don’t care about the big picture |
| Giving and receiving feedback | Brutal, untactful, constantly negative / critical / complaining | Don’t say it like it is, superficial, phony |
| Conflict | Aggressive, fight all the time, unpleasant, uncomfortable | Don’t say it like it is, superficial, phony |
| Questioning, debating, push-back | They never stop questioning, get off track, waste time, inappropriate challenging | Lack of critical analytic thinking, lack of engagement / indifference, don’t look for better solutions |
