Working for a company in a country with a different culture and language can be challenging, but it can also be a great opportunity for growth and fun experiences. 

Yen is a development manager at Trapets Hanoi and works closely with the team in Stockholm.

In this article, Yen shares his tips on maintaining clear communication across multinational teams, as well as his experience with Swedish culture.

1. Tell us about yourself.

My name is Yen Nguyen, and I'm a development manager at Trapets Hanoi. I've been with Trapets for over three years, and I'm happy to be the first member of the Hanoi office. Although my background is in software development, I have transitioned to management, so I am not coding as much as before.

I began my professional journey in 2012 and have gained experience from various companies, including local businesses, a Japanese firm, and an American corporation.

In 2018, I joined Episerver, where I discovered the Swedish work culture that I truly appreciated. Continuing this path, in 2021, I joined Trapets, where I found the ideal work environment that aligned with my beliefs.

2. What challenges do you encounter working with an international team, and how do you overcome them?

Cultural differences are the most challenging aspect of working in a cross-country team. What can seem normal in Sweden turns out to be strange in Vietnam, and the reverse is also true.

I've put a lot of effort into understanding the cultural norms and expectations, as well as increasing cultural awareness among the team. Then, I try to "convert" the norms and adapt them to both sides. 

Another challenge we face is communication barriers. These aren't only about language skills, but also about how ideas are conveyed.

Vietnamese people tend to add more explanation than needed, making it hard to understand the bottom line, while Swedish people get straight to the point.

The key to overcoming these barriers is keeping the messages short and coherent, directly addressing the point, and addressing the right people. 

3. What are your three key success factors when working with an international team across two countries?

Transparency: This is the most crucial factor from my perspective. All stakeholders should be on the same page by honestly sharing information among the organisation. 

Flexibility: The idea is that people always have the right to choose, for example, when they start and finish their work, whether they work from home or in the office. This can certainly improve work-life balance and increase productivity at the same time. 

Effective communication: As mentioned previously, a direct communication method is always preferred. 

4. What was your biggest cultural shock when you visited Sweden?

I had a chance to visit Stockholm both in winter and summer. Although there is no cultural "shock", I found that Stockholm is quite silent no matter the season (even in summer, when people tend to hang out more).

This could be explained by the population of Stockholm, which is as many as about 10% of Hanoi, but I still believe Stockholm is more peaceful.

Besides, personal space is always honoured. I think that colleagues in Stockholm are a little "cold" at first, but when we get to know more about others, they are nice and friendly.

I don't think this is a bad thing; it is just about habits from different cultures.

Vietnamese people love hanging out with friends or colleagues; we can quickly get acquainted even with strangers. You can find two teams not knowing each other from the start, toasting together, and ending up becoming friends, which I don't think could be the case in Stockholm ;)