Before arriving in Stockholm, there was a fear of a communication issue in the workplace. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the ability to communicate with my other interns and the partners, as everyone spoke and wrote in English, allowing for me to understand past documents and what they were conversing about. A lot of my work involves taking information that can be messy or spread out across different sources and turning it into something easier to understand, which can be an area for miscommunication. Also, continuing to work with the other interns has been helpful because we are all learning at the same time, especially the other interns who are from the States because they may be dealing with similar communication issues. Being able to ask each other questions, compare ideas, and talk through assignments has made the experience feel more collaborative.
One of the biggest things I have noticed during my time in Sweden is that communication feels different from what I am used to in the United States. When thinking about the communication scale from low-context to high-context, I would still consider both the United States and Sweden to be more on the low-context side compared to some cultures. People generally value clear information, being prepared, and saying what needs to be done. However, Sweden feels more subtle and reserved than the communication style I am used to back home. The people here are going to be less abrupt and more soft spoken, generally when speaking, not only in the workplace but in the city atmosphere, which can sometimes be misleading when a topic is urgent because the urgency can get lost in translation.
In the United States, I feel like people are often more expressive, more energetic, and quicker to fill silence. In a classroom, workplace, or even casual conversation, people often speak up quickly and explain exactly what they think. In Sweden, conversations can feel calmer. People may take more time before responding, and silence does not always feel uncomfortable to them. At first, I was surprised by this as that truly differs from America and did take a learning curve to understand but I am used to it now and do not really mind a more quiet room and everyone working on their work.
Another difference I have noticed is that feedback can sometimes feel less direct than I expected. In the United States, if something needs to be changed, someone might say it very clearly. At THREAD, feedback can sometimes sound more like a suggestion or a question. For example, instead of saying, “Change this part,” someone might say, “Maybe we could look at this another way,” or “What do you think about trying this?”This way of speaking was newer to me and was sometimes tough to understand if it was a suggestion or more of a direction for me to follow. I had to learn to pay closer attention and ask follow-up questions when I was unsure.
I have also noticed communication differences when working with internal and external partners as their expectations may differ. Different people may care about different parts of the project. Some people focus more on the numbers, while others care more about how the final visual looks or what story it tells. For example, one partner could be more considered about the money and who a product is selling to, whereas another partner is looking at the structure of the business and the actors that would be involved. Because of this, I have had to think more carefully about who the information is for and what they need from it. This has made me realize that good communication is not just about giving information. It is about making sure the information is useful to the person receiving it.
Working with the other interns has helped me navigate some of these challenges. Since there are six other interns, it has been useful to talk through assignments and see how other people understand the same task. Sometimes another intern will explain something in a way that makes the project clearer, or they will notice something I missed. This has reminded me that communication is not only between supervisors and interns. It also happens through teamwork and shared problem-solving.
Overall, this experience has taught me to slow down, listen more carefully, and not assume that everyone communicates the way I do. I am learning that strong communication does not always mean talking the most or responding the fastest. Sometimes it means asking better questions, being patient, and making sure everyone is on the same page. These are skills I know will help me in future internships, classes, and jobs back in the United States.