CIS Club Championship 2010-2011

There are several traits that, in my opinion, are very harmful to the French themselves, but which cannot be eradicated. The French don't know how to negotiate amicably. That is, of course, agreements are signed, concluded, and fulfilled. That's not what I'm talking about. I'm talking about how we come to an agreement. The process itself is interesting: A Frenchman always tries to get everything by force. And, accordingly, you can only negotiate with him by force. He always tries to dictate. In response, just grab your French partners by the throat. (Figuratively) and you will come to an agreement. It's strange, wild, but that's how it is. If you can't grab them by the throat, then there will be no negotiations as such: they will dictate what they need. Then they will think about it and expand the list. That's all. They won't think of anything to offer you, except coffee and some arrogant advice. Almost all French people tend to overestimate their abilities. This is especially true when it comes to admitting their own mistakes. I have seen cases where, out of some irrepressible stubbornness, a person ended up in court, but still remained stubborn. And even after losing the case, he remained stubborn. Such behavior sometimes brings positive results - you give up and don't pursue it to the end, especially since the costs of lawyers are high, and the wheels of justice turn too slowly. A Frenchman is sure that he is always right. And when two Frenchmen negotiate, it's just two roosters, outwardly observing the proprieties. Sometimes it seems to me that they are not capable of repentance and of apologizing sincerely and without pressure. Family quarrels of such intensity are not uncommon here that it is frightening. Here are two brothers - one is 60, the other is 63. One moved abroad and is therefore a little "richer" than his sick and impoverished relative who remained in France. They cannot agree and hate each other because of a piece of land, which they both try to sell to me. It's just amazing. Both are ready to share the money, not take the whole amount for themselves. One agrees to a lower price, and the other wants more, but also wants to put down his brother - he needs the money more. In every Frenchman, especially the one who "makes decisions," there lives a small or large Napoleon. After all, if you look at it objectively: Napoleon is a comical figure. Hand behind his back, belly forward, endless posing. Monograms and ostentatious glory. There have been more powerful commanders in history. What is he particularly proud of? A dozen successful battles? But in the end, a series of defeats came, a lonely island, tediousness, arsenic, and a mournful screwing of the wife of his faithful follower. In the time of Philip the Fair, or even earlier - the Crusades, Louis the Saint, or later - Francis I or Henry II, this dandy would simply have been an army clown. However, the French adore Napoleon. This is because Napoleon lives in each of them. It gets to the point of being funny. I prepare for the spectacle in advance. If I don't have a backup option, and preferably three, then there is no point in starting negotiations. The French are not ready to give anything to their partner just like that. Everything must be snatched. In general, normal negotiations involve mutual concessions. But the most effective behavior with the French is to firmly state the price and conditions to your partner, and then politely, without dwelling on it, but clearly explain why you can do without this partner. For example, I want to sell a building. It is more useful to the buyer than to me. But he will still put on airs until he clearly feels that I don't care. I will sell it to someone else. Bluffing won't work, everyone is experienced. Therefore, in order to sell something to Monsieur Dupont, I have to find three more buyers and even encourage them. At the same time, I know for sure that Dupont will buy it. But Dupont simply doesn't know how to negotiate. And instead of simply agreeing amicably, not wasting energy in vain, for his own benefit, I have to keep a stone in my bosom. They (the French) almost never give in to threats. Rather, I'm not even talking about someone threatening them. Not at all: here, a Frenchman is clearly getting into a trap, or, there, into a fire for chestnuts. He gets in and gets in. The result is always the same: either he gets burned, or he gets away with it. But he is absolutely sure that he will get away with it, and even though he is already covered in bandages, he still gets in. It's even worse if a Frenchman stole your chestnuts. You tell him: give them back. He refuses and even insults you. You tell him: you'll get hit on the head. He doesn't believe it. He gets hit. He gives them back. He thinks he was treated unfairly.