Because it is built on US cultural assumptions – low-context self-expression, individual visibility as virtue, speaking to strangers as normal. For someone wired for high-context communication, collective loyalty, and earned visibility – it doesn’t just feel uncomfortable, it feels wrong at a value level.
I’m a russian socialised founder living in Berlin – and I did wonder why it is easier for some to get noticed, self-promote and get out there, including sharing hilarious, touching stories on LinkedIn.
For me, this whole thing has been hell. I did not know what to post. It all was so painfully cringe. A critical comment on my post and a colleague who disconnected literally caused me to question my entire idea of going into entrepreneurship.
And then, I was on the phone with my dad (who still lives in Novosibirsk, Siberia) last week. He goes: “Just don’t stick your head out, you’ll be safer this way”
And I remember my mom going: “Just sit there quietly, as long as the salary is incoming, all is well…” when I’ve been having a hard time at work and was trying to speak up and switch teams.
No wonder my fear of social rejection and speaking up is so strong. The mechanisms of growing up are not serving me right now on so many levels.
As someone who studied Cultural & Social Studies in Germany, I know my cultural values are different. I am also a fan of Erin Meyer’s “Cultural Map” and I’ve put into words that uncomfortable feeling with sharing and visibility in general – for US (business praised cultural archetype), Germany (because this is where I live) and Eastern Europe (this is where I’m from).
Good news btw: After half a year of sharing consistently – followers, subscribers and questionable comments are just data points and I cannot be happier that I’ve grown this muscle. So wherever you come from – no need to adjust until it is uncomfortable, you can still use the platforms by your own rules. No need to be stopped because of the values that are in the way right now.
I’ve had my first consultations around this and I feel very pumped.
What do you think? Accurate? Is it helpful?
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