Despite its small population of just over 5.5 million people, Finland is home to some big international names, including telecommunications giant Nokia, Rovio (developer of Angry Birds), and elevator manufacturer KONE. The country has long served as proof that size does not matter, especially when it comes to business.
But how is it that a country known for its hard-to-break culture, less-than-desirable climate, and difficult-to-learn language is often hailed as one of the world’s best places to do business? ?
Help is always at hand.
Knowing that there are countless hurdles to overcome when starting a business, Finland does an incredible job of providing government support options aimed at encouraging people to open new businesses, instead of of barriers that discourage innovation.
Finland, as a nation, thrives on innovation and collaboration, known for offering a vibrant and friendly startup ecosystem. But while becoming a business mogul is a dream for many, it can often be a long, complicated and extremely confusing process, especially if you’ve never done it before.
The Finnish government has worked hard to implement an infrastructure that enables it to offer free business advice to anyone in the country, whether you have an existing business or are off the ground. Want to get any ideas. A number of organizations, including Business Finland, Finnish Enterprise Agency, Centers for Economic Development, Transport and Environment, And Enterprise Finland All give those with good business ideas the opportunity to collaborate with market research, profitability calculations, and financial surveys, with the goal of turning ideas into action and building a profitable business. In order not to discourage foreign innovation, this advice is usually presented in several languages, including Finnish and Swedish and, in many cases, English.
For budding entrepreneurs, start-up grants are also available to ensure that new business owners are able to earn a living during the early stages of operation. Finvira, a Finnish state-owned finance company that provides loans to new companies and companies that are already operating. It will help with capital as long as the company has the preconditions for profitable operations, even if the company is unable to get a conventional loan from a bank, allowing both new and existing businesses to flourish. I will help.
Relationships are the key to business.
Finland is not only a great place to start a business. It also provides ample opportunities for existing business owners and employees to network with like-minded people. Due to the country’s less dense population and its focus on more meaningful and innovative industry events, both personal and professional networks are often very tightly connected, giving entrepreneurs in Finland important connections with potential partners and customers. and enable the creation of lasting relationships, and help create a sense of community in every sector.
Government organizations that help startups get off the ground often also facilitate networking opportunities, ensuring that startup founders have great connections with other business owners and industry experts. Be kept with
In Finland, the generally shared view is that work relationships should have more personal contact. So, instead of having colleagues, you have working friends (työkaveri) and as a result, businesses adopt very different management styles to many countries around the world.
Pioneers of the flat working model, in which there are few hierarchical levels between management and staff, Finnish businesses promote increased involvement of all staff members within the business with organizational decision-making, encouraging open communication. Encouragement and, most importantly, confidence, a relatively uncommon quality that Finland possesses in abundance compared to other nations.
Many business deals in Finland are forged without paper signatures and while this may seem strange and unwise to many, the trusting nature of Finland has led to one of the most efficient societies. Is. corruption. By building close relationships with colleagues and potential business partners, it enables an open workflow, strengthens shared understanding, and further contributes to the overall happiness of the Finnish people.
The importance of balance
While in many work cultures around the world, working late at the office is considered something to brag about, in Finland it is widely believed that this behavior is not conducive to a healthy lifestyle. Spending every possible hour of the day working causes burnout and leaves little time to focus on personal growth and maintain a healthy work/life balance.
The general attitude from business owners is that as long as work gets done and staff are contactable when needed, strict time schedules are completely unnecessary. Thus, regular work hours are 8 am to 4 pm, many companies are very flexible and allow staff to work a schedule that suits them.
This mantra of valuing personal time runs deep in Finnish culture and creates some of the most positive and productive work environments in the world. Doing business in Finland with its stable, low-stress environment means that everyone from interns to business owners are able to maintain a healthy balance between work and personal life.
Whether you’re a grad student with a great idea or an employee looking to climb the corporate ladder, Finland is the perfect place for you. Providing an unprecedented support network with government support for start-ups, the country demonstrates the importance of fostering innovation and lateral thinking. With its progressive stance towards mental health in the workplace and its focus on building and maintaining strong business relationships, Finland has become a global hub for entrepreneurship, creating lasting, positive change in the world and empowering its citizens. is helping to become a leader in internationally competitive sectors.
Credit : www.forbes.com
