A French manager is expected to be a strong authority figure with a high degree of technical competence. At the same time French managers show much more attention to detail than their British counterparts. British who work for French bosses are often surprised at what they consider unwarranted interference in their own areas of competence. This does not indicate unprofessionalism and sloppiness among British managers. They tend to delegate responsibility more than the French and expect their subordinates to answer their own questions.
French managers keep a distance from their subordinates and also from their peers.
They are less likely than British counterparts to open their minds, much less their hearts, and to share problems. They are expected to be directive rather than participative, competitive rather than collaborative. The British sometimes misinterpret this as a need for autocratic leadership. In fact, along with logic in the French mentality goes a deep and healthy scepticism. They are happy to be led but only in the right direction and for the right reasons.