What I first felt when I came to an American company was that I needed to learn some rules that might be a bit unfamiliar to Koreans.

What was taken for granted in Korea can sometimes be considered rude, and what seems cold or inefficient by Korean standards is often a normal part of company culture in the U.S.

I experienced this difference quite a bit while working at a healthcare company. At first, I wondered, "Why do they do it this way?" but over time, I found that there was a reason for everything.

The problem is that no one explains these reasons in detail at first.

The most representative example is the culture of being friendly but drawing very clear boundaries.

Every Monday morning, they ask, "How was your weekend?" with a smile, but that doesn't necessarily mean they want to have a deep conversation.

It's more like a form of social lubricant to start the day smoothly at work.

If someone suddenly brings up family issues or health problems, it can catch others off guard.

The second surprising thing is the culture of speaking directly to superiors.

In Korea, expressing disagreement with a superior's opinion can often freeze the atmosphere.

In American companies, if you stay silent and a problem arises later, the reaction is often, "Why didn't you say anything back then?"

Especially in the healthcare industry, where documentation, regulations, patient information, and compliance are crucial, a nonchalant attitude is seen as more dangerous.

During meetings, saying something like, "I see it a little differently" is not seen as an argument but rather as a responsible way to participate.

The third is an almost obsessive habit of keeping records.

While emails are important in Korea, in American companies, it's essential to document everything.

Even if something seems to have been settled verbally, a follow-up email is always sent. There's a reason why emails starting with "Just to recap our conversation" are so common.

Keeping track of who said what and when is a form of self-protection. It's to ensure accountability later on.

At first, I thought, "Why send an email about something we just talked about in the hallway?" but this is the basic grammar of American corporate life. The record is stronger than the word.

The fourth point is that there are far more compliments and positive expressions than one might expect.

To a Korean, it might sound a bit exaggerated. Even for small things, phrases like "Amazing," "Awesome," and "Great point" come up frequently.

At first, I also wondered, "Is this for real?" However, in American companies, such expressions are not emotional exaggerations but rather the basic unit of relationship management.

However, it's important to note that while the words may be soft, the decisions can be cold.

In meetings, they might say, "That's a great suggestion" but not actually adopt it.

If you interpret this directly as a sign of goodwill in a Korean way, misunderstandings can arise. In American companies, the warmth of words and the direction of decisions do not always align.

Below are examples of English conversations that I often see or use in this context.

Example 1
A: How was your weekend?
B: Pretty good. Just relaxed and caught up on sleep. How about yours?
A: Not bad. I took my kids to a soccer game.

The key to this conversation is not to get close but to start work smoothly. There's no need to delve too deeply.

Example 2
A: I see your point, but I have a slightly different concern.
B: Sure, go ahead.
A: If we move too fast on this, we may create compliance issues later.

This is how disagreements are expressed in American companies. It may seem like a direct confrontation, but it's actually quite a normal conversation. Especially in healthcare, the word compliance can change the atmosphere.

Example 3
A: Just to make sure we're aligned, I'll send a quick follow-up email.
B: Perfect. That would be helpful.
A: Great. I'll include the next steps and timeline.

This expression clearly shows the record-keeping culture in American companies. It's a habit of closing things with documentation rather than just words.

Ultimately, the rules in American companies prioritize roles over emotions, responsibilities over atmosphere, and clear expressions over implicit understanding.

These were the realistic rules of American corporate life that I was unaware of in Korea.