In my host culture, success in a professional setting seems to be more about what you actually get done during the day rather than focusing on the number of hours you spend doing it. There is a clear emphasis on maintaining relationships, and they seem to have a much healthier work-life balance than we do in the United States. At IMMA and in Ireland more broadly, I’ve noticed that people value connection, presence, and well-being just as much, if not more, than simply crossing tasks off a to-do list. A successful employee here is seen as someone who is not only efficient and reliable, but also someone who takes the time to actively engage with their colleagues and someone who contributes to a positive work environment. It’s not just about individual output.
This is very different than the work culture that I have observed in the United States. In contrast, in the United States, I feel that success overall is more about prioritizing constant output, staying busy, and working long hours. While this can definitely lead to great results and a fast pace, I think that it limits how coworkers interact with one another and can hinder them from making meaningful connections. It can create an environment where people are too focused on their responsibilities to build significant relationships with colleagues. For example, in many American offices, it’s common for people to eat lunch alone at their desks, quickly shuffle between meetings, power through their emails, and only stop to chat if something is related to work. Any social interactions tend to be short or strictly work-related, and it can sometimes feel like there’s little room for genuine connection during the workday.
On the flip side, at my placement in Ireland, people would often leave their office doors open or work from communal spaces, actually encouraging people to stop by and have a quick chat. Geniality and friendliness are encouraged throughout the workplace. In addition, since a lot of people are hybrid, sometimes on a busy day a lot of desks are taken, and you need to find any desk that is open. At first, I thought this might feel chaotic or disconnected, but it actually has a silver lining as this “hot desking” setup coerces people to have new interactions with other people that they may not have met before and helps colleagues get to know each other better. It led to spontaneous conversations and helped me get to know people I might not have otherwise interacted with. Overall, this flexible seating arrangement helped to foster a sense of community.
Another aspect I really appreciated was the way people in Ireland seem to prioritize proper breaks. People will schedule a time to take tea breaks and rather than just taking a quick trip to the kitchen, they will actually sit down in order to have real conversations other than small talk. People here will genuinely pause what they’re doing in order to listen and connect with you. hese breaks aren’t rushed or seen as unproductive, but rather as a meaningful part of the workday that helps build rapport and trust. It’s definitely a slower pace, but I think it’s also more fulfilling. This experience has opened my eyes and changed my perspective on what professional success looks like. In the U.S., there’s often a sense that being busy equals being successful, and that taking breaks or chatting during the workday might be seen as slacking. But my time in Ireland has shown me that it’s not just about being busy all the time – being present, mindful, and community-oriented can actually enhance productivity and lead to a better work environment.
Overall, this cultural difference has taught me that productivity and human connection don’t have to be opposing forces. You can be efficient and still make time for conversation. You can meet deadlines and still ask someone how their day is going. You can take a break and come back even more focused. These are values that I really want to carry forward into any workplace I’m a part of in the future. My time at IMMA wasn’t just about completing tasks – it was about learning how to work in a way that is sustainable, inclusive, and rooted in community. I genuinely enjoyed the environment there, and I think the culture contributed a lot to my overall experience and growth. If anything, it’s made me realize that success isn’t just about what you accomplish, but how you go about it – and who you bring along with you.
