Kolumni

The Finnish Work Ethic

22.12.2009 0:01 Mary Nurminen

It was time for the annual review of the various people I managed across the globe. I knew what was coming, it happened every time. The Finns, the other Europeans, the Singaporeans - they all accepted my reviews well.

The Americans, on the other hand, wanted to know why I've given them 'Good' instead of the 'Excels beyond Expectations' they thought they deserved. They explained to me that their previous (American) managers usually gave them an 'Excels' rating.

As an explanation on why I give that type of rating, I told them my understanding of the Finnish work ethic. It's a slightly extreme version, based on what it's like to work for my father-in-law.

Like many others of his age group, my father-in-law grew up in the shadow of wars and post-war rebuilding. He is one of the ones who built his own life, and the foundations of the modern phase of this country, through raw hard work.

Do you think you and I and other under-50s in this country have anything close to an idea of what kind of work was necessary to do that?

I don't think we do. Not a clue.

When I was younger I spent a few days doing work for my father-in-law on his farm. My kids and nieces and nephews have all worked for him at some point too. We have all noticed what it's like to work for one of these strong hard-working Finnish men.

Here's how a typical day helping on the farm went for me:

I work as hard as my soft city muscles let me. There are times I want to quit and sit down, and by late in the afternoon I feel like crying.

At one point I consider calling my husband to come up with an excuse that would get me out of the thing. That shows how tired I am - I even imagine he might do it. The truth is that he has also learned the hard-work lesson from his dad, and there is little chance he would let me get away with quitting.

A bit later I have a better idea - I could call my brother-in-law. He also understands hard work but has a soft side and might do it for me. But I feel bad doing that.

I realize I'm stuck working. So I say nothing, just grit my teeth and keep going.

At the end of the day, besides being thankful to the Lord in Heaven that I'm still alive, I'm a bit proud. I did it, I worked harder than I thought was possible and really got something done. Now that I think about it, in my current high-tech computer life, I rarely get that same feeling of 'Yes! I did it!'

And what does my father-in-law say?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Why not? Because that thing I did, where I gave it my all and worked as hard as I possibly could, that's exactly what he expected of me in the first place. Nothing more, nothing less.

I guess he had higher expectations of me than I had of myself.

So, I told my group of Americans, if you think my review is unfair, if you think I haven't noticed how hard you've worked and what you've accomplished, then you are wrong. I have noticed.

But maybe you haven't noticed how professional I think you are, and the great things I think you are capable of. My expectations are so high that these great things you've accomplished - that is exactly what I expected from you in the first place.

Nothing more, nothing less.

VOCABULARY: Review: arviointi, Father-in-law: appiukko, Rebuilding: jälleenrakennus, Expectation: odotus

Mary Nurminen juhlii 20:ttä vuottaan Suomessa kirjoittamalla sarjaa suomalaisten perusolemuksesta.

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