Work with British people

I went to our company's headoffice yesterday.

The office in London where I work has only Japanese people. I don't normally talk in English ... that's why my English level is still low ;( But, most of workes in our headoffice are British.
So, today I would like to write down 'to work with British people'. Because I am Japanese, it will be more compasiron with Japan.

Don't like confrontation

Most of Japanese people don't like confrontation. Japanese are famous of the people who cannot say 'NO'.
I thought British people were direct, but, our company's British people are like Japanese. They don't like to tell people directly.
I had to tell my Japanese co-worker that her work was not good enough. I didn't want to tell her, but I was the only one who understood her work. So, I told her although I hated to do. But, actully all of my British colleagues knew about it, even our company president. They didn't want to tell her because our company's very small, but it's quite interesting thing.

I think my view 'British people tell directly' is probably coming from my image of American??

Human error?!

This 'Human error' is very new to me. Some mistakes happens, people just let them go because of human error. That never happens in Japan! If there is some human errors happen, then we have to take some action to remove those human errors from now on. Discuss to remove future errors.. That's why we have so many extra working hours in Japan!

This 'human error' excuse, actually I love it! Yeah, we are human, we make mistakes.

When I had to do bit of customer support, I was alwasy jealous British team cause they could say 'I am sorry but it's human error'. If we said to Japanese customers, they would be furious! because it's unbelievable excure to Japanese.

Do my job

It really depends people, but I think job description is more clearer in Britain rather than in Japan. People don't do other than their job description: they can refuse to do.

In Japan, of course you can refuse, but you will b labelled as 'non-flexible person', and you will be treated as 'useless person' (unless you have very amazing skill or knowledge). I guess it's from Japan's 'cooperation' value. (Actually, I do jobs out of my job description, it's because I am curious!)

The above my comments contains criticism, but I guess it doesn't really matter nationalities to work with. It really depends on person, not nationality.
... this conclusion really denies my post!
Hmmm, I think I am still tired from my business trip to the headoffice!