Americans at Work: A Guide to the Can‐Do People

Citation

Bullock, J. (2006), "Americans at Work: A Guide to the Can‐Do People", Leadership & Organization Development Journal, Vol. 27 No. 4, pp. 320-322. https://doi.org/10.1108/01437730610667234

Americans at Work is an interesting book examining the behavioural norms and perceptions of the American workplace from dual perspectives: Americans of others and vice versa. Storti sets clear expectations at the outset to alert readers that the culture of the USA is still in its infancy compared to many other countries in the world. Thus, this proverbial melting pot of immigrants from many countries converging on the “New World” is going through changes and transitions experienced centuries ago by older, more established cultures. The recency of immigration and assimilation creates an environment where frequent headlines of diversity and multiculturalism attest to the relative youthfulness of American society as it slowly begins a gradual evolution leading to the emergence of a new culture. Looking back over two centuries of cultural development, Storti explains “More than that of any other single group, it is the worldview derived from the European‐American mindset that has shaped the culture of the American workplace.”

Storti makes generalizations and inferences about the values, beliefs, and assumptions of the average American white‐collar worker drawing upon years of observations and experience in intercultural communications. The text is therefore, anecdotal in nature. Readers are cautioned about making further generalizations as the information is not based on scientific research or empirical studies. Nonetheless, Storti's characterization of six cultural themes underlying the American workplace ring true:

• “Land of Opportunity” = a driven people

• “Go‐for‐It Mentality” = ready, fire, aim; new is better

• “Equality for All” = but don't forget who's boss

• “The Drive to Achieve” = nice guys finish last

• “Live and Let Live” = do your own thing

• “Time Matters” = obsession with efficiency

The book is structured in two parts. The first part is comprised of separate chapters that provide the reader with an explanation behind each cultural theme, its development, how it is manifested in the workplace, and how Americans see others within this context. Building on these themes, Storti provides a straightforward discussion on communication followed by an illuminating glimpse into the power structure between bosses and subordinates. Each chapter provides salient advice for working with Americans whether readers work with them face‐to‐face, indirectly, or simply need to understand them better. Part two provides a salient list of do's and do not's of the American workplace. Intended as a brief overview of topics such as relationships, etiquette, nonverbal communication, attire, taboo topics, and other pertinent items, this section highlights “what Americans actually do in a number of the most common workplace situations – and, therefore, what they'll expect you to do in those same situations.” It is at this juncture that Storti again reminds the reader that conceptual generalizations are employed to construct an average white‐collar American worker for purposes of the book. “Just remember that you will never meet a general person, nor will you ever be in a general situation; so use the advice given in this chapter carefully.”

Although the entire book is fascinating, Storti's chapter “Communication, American Style” certainly plays to strengths developed from years of experience in intercultural communications as he tackles vitally important facets of straight talk – or lack thereof, confrontation, and understatement. Discourse and underlying interpretations are examined to reveal motivations, innuendo, and suspicion often inappropriately surmised from spoken words. “A certain amount of misinterpretation is almost inevitable whenever a person from one culture tries to figure out what someone from another culture means.” The valuable end‐of‐chapter “Advice for Working with Americans” is proffered to help readers avoid some of the more common pitfalls.

Whilst Americans at Work targets a non‐American audience seeking to better understand the idiosyncrasies of the American workplace, it also provides Americans with a revealing “big picture” view that may help them work more effectively with people from other cultures. The book is well suited for readers across a wide spectrum of interests from business, communications, linguistics, and sociology to foreign travel. The information is presented in an easily accessible manner containing rich descriptions and examples occasionally punctuated by relevant quotations from notable authors. A bibliography is provided to help readers interested in furthering their exploration of the “can‐do people.”

The overarching goal of Americans at Work is to help readers work more effectively with people from the USA – not to attack or defend Americans – by exploring six cultural themes in the workplace, explaining communication basics, and highlighting generally accepted office etiquette. This information will help readers acquire a better understanding of white‐collar American workers in general. More importantly, Storti posits, it will change “how you see the world.”