Your international colleague from one country interrupts constantly and it feels rude. Your colleague from another country never disagrees openly in the meeting, only afterward, one-on-one. Neither is actually being difficult — meeting norms around directness, hierarchy, and interruption vary genuinely by culture, and confusion here is a real, common, fixable gap, not a personality clash.
Directness and hierarchy vary by culture, not by rudeness
Some business cultures treat interrupting to add a point as normal engagement; others treat it as disrespectful. Some cultures expect junior team members to speak up freely; others expect disagreement to go through more indirect, private channels first. None of these patterns is “correct” — they’re different, genuinely functional norms, and the friction usually comes from assuming your own norm is the neutral default.
A practical way to read the room
Watch how the most senior person in the meeting is treated — interrupted freely, or given uninterrupted space — that single signal tells you a lot about the room’s actual norm. When in doubt, ask directly and simply (“should I jump in with questions, or save them for the end?”) — a genuine question about process reads as thoughtful, not weak, in almost every business culture.
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FAQ
Why does a colleague’s directness or interrupting style feel rude sometimes?
Meeting norms around directness and interruption genuinely vary by business culture — what feels rude in one context is normal engagement in another.
Is it disrespectful to disagree openly with someone senior?
It depends entirely on the specific culture and company — some expect open disagreement, others expect it handled more privately and indirectly. Neither is universally correct.
How can I quickly read a new team’s actual norm?
Watch how the most senior person in the room is treated — freely interrupted, or given uninterrupted space — it’s a strong, fast signal.
Is it okay to just ask about the expected norm directly?
Yes — a simple, genuine question about process (“should I jump in, or wait?”) reads as thoughtful in nearly every business culture, not weak.