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Today, I am going to show you how to improve your communication style in both your personal and professional life by mastering the art of Nordic efficiency, clarity, minimalism and silence.
By adopting those Nordic values, you can strengthen your relationships, build more trust, and make more impact with your words (or silence, when necessary).
Unfortunately, most people nowadays resort to maximalism, a mindset that prioritises excess and complexity. More is more versus less is more.
Some say this approach encourages self-expression and joyful chaos. I say there’s already enough chaos and noise around us. We don’t need more.
Instead, our times require modesty and efficiency, which the Nordic people excel in.
Let’s explore the foundations and features of the Nordic communication style, as well as the challenges to outsiders and four ways to incorporate it into your private and professional life.
“A wise man is not boastful about his intelligence, but rather cautious in mind; when a wise and silent man comes to a homestead, blame seldom befalls the wary. For no more dependable friend can a man ever get than a store of common sense”.
This comes from the Hávamál, an Old Norse poem attributed to Odin, and contains wisdom on silence and measured speech.
Sometimes silence is more powerful than speaking. And when speaking is necessary, modesty paired with efficiency and clarity makes the most significant impact.
Why do people in the Nordics communicate differently? And what can we learn from them?
The Nordic communication style is deeply rooted in cultural values that prioritise equality, transparency, and social harmony. Egalitarianism and consensus-building have historically been emphasized in the Nordics, influencing their societies, politics, and even history. Those values have also influenced their communication practices.
- Egalitarianism. Nordic societies are known for flat or no hierarchies, rooted in the principle of treating everyone equally. That has led to the establishment of informal communication styles. Titles are unnecessary (even avoided). Everyone can call each other by their first names.
- Minimalism. If there’s one thing that comes to mind when talking about the Nordics, that’s minimalism. This is also reflected in how Nordic people communicate: clearly and efficiently. Less is more. And that’s highly appreciated. This is why Nordic languages and communication styles are straightforward. You can’t blame them for that!
- Consensus. Confrontation and conflict are not appreciated in the Nordics. Consensus works (and feels) much better. It helps focus on collaboration and mutual agreement. Whether in personal interactions or professional settings, no one wants a fight. Everyone wants resolutions and solutions that focus on the common interest.
Directness vs indirectness
When going to the Nordics, this is one thing you quickly understand: communication is almost always direct.
However, you should also be aware of a few nuances that depend on the context.
For example, despite their preference for directness, Nordic people often soften their words if they have to give negative feedback or disagree with something. They do that by downgrading their language. They use words like “perhaps” or “somewhat” a lot. It’s about making criticism less confrontational and maintaining social harmony.
People also express their thoughts openly and concisely in professional settings (such as the workplace or during external meetings and negotiations). For example, Norwegians greatly appreciate “saying it as it is,” avoiding ambiguity and excessive politeness. They even have this saying: “Å snakke rett fra leveren,” which translates to “Speaking right from the liver.” This couldn’t be more direct.
Speaking of workplace communication, bosses and employees alike use the “Less is more” (or even, “Nothing to say is more”) approach. Meetings and discussions focus on action and outcomes, not lengthy deliberations (and certainly not formalities). New employees only rarely receive instructions. And if they don’t ask for feedback or help, they never get one (unless necessary by circumstances). Independence is a common assumption in Nordic workplaces. Everybody assumes that all the others do their job to the best of their abilities, unless issues arise.
Silence as a communication tool?
In many countries and cultures, silence is awkward. It may also indicate discomfort or disengagement. In contrast, silence is valued in the Nordics, and people feel incredibly comfortable with it.
Nordic people are strategic and use silence and pauses in the same way, strategically.
For example, conversations often resemble formal debates. Being open and direct is one thing. Talking over others is not a thing. Free-flowing discussions give way to turn-based conversations. Each one expresses their opinion, makes a pause (so that everyone can reflect), and the next one takes a turn. That may sound counterintuitive or awkward and unpleasant, but it’s not. It’s just that silence signifies the closure of a point or opinion and allows for deliberate responses.
Particularly in Finland, long pauses are common and are not perceived as awkward. Even going to a restaurant or cafe alone and sitting in silence the whole time is perfectly normal. No one will judge (or even bother to notice).
Getting-to-the-point languages
Communication styles are greatly influenced by the languages used. And the Nordics are no exception. If you start learning the Scandinavian languages, you quickly notice that they consist of shorter words (except for Finnish, which is not a Scandinavian or Germanic language) and have simpler structures and grammar.
They are highly contextual and descriptive. When you want to say something more complicated, simply set the context and use more words. That’s why the Nordic languages don’t have the breadth of synonyms found in English (and certainly in older languages like Greek).
The lack of formalities has already been mentioned, but it also reflects on the language. For example, there’s no one word for “please” in Danish. They may just add “tak” (thanks) at the end of the request.
Generally, Nordic languages are straightforward, which is why they use the imperative a lot. Telling a colleague “Give me the salt!” is perfectly polite, practical, and no-nonsense. Keep that last one in mind.
The influence of the Nordic social norms on communication
Contrary to popular belief, the Nordic countries don’t necessarily have more social norms than other countries. However, they do have distinctive norms that shape daily life and interactions (including communication).
Those unwritten rules and expectations guide behaviour and influence the way people communicate with each other. Social norms, such as respect for personal space, minimal small talk, or low power distance, are rooted in the cultural emphasis on independence, equality and trust.
Speaking of equality, you must have heard about Janteloven (The Law of Jante). It’s particularly prominent in Denmark and Norway, as it originated from the Danish-Norwegian author Aksel Sandemose, who introduced it in his 1933 novel “A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks”.
The book describes life in the fictional town of Jante, where strict social norms promote collective harmony over individualism and personal success. The Law of Jante fosters a “we” mentality that reflects on the Nordic languages and communication style.
Even when talking about success or achievements (which happens rarely), Nordic people use understated language to downplay them.
Challenges for outsiders
All that sounds wonderful, and understanding the Nordic communication style is straightforward. But how is it when you actually live in the Nordics as a foreigner? That comes with a few challenges.
For example, directness may be considered (more or less) impolite or aggressive, and direct feedback may seem blunt or overly critical.
Silence may feel awkward and be interpreted as disinterest or discomfort.
And new employees from abroad may feel unsupported and struggle due to the lack of instructions or feedback.
Adapting to the Nordic communication style requires shifting perspectives rather than changing personality.
For example, you can try to
- Embrace directness (without feeling intimidated)
- Appreciate silence (and take it for what it is, nothing more, nothing less), and
- Ask for instructions, support, or feedback if you need them.
However, regardless of where you live, you can integrate the Nordic communication style (or parts of it) into your personal and professional life.
4 actionable insights to bring the Nordics home
Incorporating the Nordic communication style into your life can give your communication an interesting twist, help you enhance clarity, and strengthen your relationships on solid ground.
Here are 4 ways to do it:
- Use pauses and silences strategically to create space for reflection and thoughtful responses. You don’t have to fill every gap with unnecessary words.
- Be direct and respectful with honesty and transparency. Practice expressing yourself authentically while maintaining politeness.
- Streamline your communication by prioritising efficiency and focusing on essential information and points. Avoid too much detail and be as concise as possible to show respect for other people’s time.
- Communicate modestly by downplaying self-promotion and focusing on mutual benefits and collective harmony (win-win situations). It’s more about “we” and less (or not at all) about “me”. It’s about a sense of equality and mutual respect.
Wrapping up
It’s truly fascinating how much social norms and values shape the way people communicate with each other. Even the languages people speak reflect their communication style (and vice versa).
By embracing conciseness in both language and interaction styles, Nordic societies have cultivated a communication culture that is both effective and harmonious. It’s no wonder that they consistently rank high in measures of productivity and happiness.
Would you integrate the Nordic communication style into your life? If yes, how? Which element resonates the most with you? Join the discussion on X.
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