I've worked on enough globally diverse teams to know that cultural differences are often less about what people say and more about how they say it. Take my current team, for instance. I have a Finnish colleague, let's call him Jari, and a Swedish colleague, Sofia. When faced with a potential design flaw, Sofia will initiate a polite, all-hands meeting to "explore options" and "ensure everyone feels heard," which can take an entire afternoon. Jari, on the other hand, will send a three-line email at 7:00 AM stating, "Problem X. Proposed solution Y. Execute now," which, to the rest of us, feels like a lightning strike. The contrast is stark: one seeks consensus at all costs , even if it delays action; the other prizes straightforward efficiency , even if it risks bruised feelings. This dynamic is a microcosm of the entire business relationship between Sweden and Finland—two nations that are fundamentally intertwined yet manage their affairs with dist...