Cultural Influences on Freelancing – Learning to Adapt Across Borders

Culture shapes everything — from how we communicate and negotiate to how we handle conflict or deliver feedback. For freelancers, cultural awareness is not just a “soft skill” — it’s a crucial factor that affects client relationships, collaboration efficiency, and overall success.

Working between Taiwan and the UK, I’ve seen firsthand how cultural expectations influence freelance work dynamics. In Taiwan, for instance, there’s a stronger emphasis on hierarchy, face-saving, and indirect communication. Clients may hesitate to give direct negative feedback, and decision-making often requires multiple layers of approval. As a freelancer, I learned to read between the lines and follow up diplomatically to clarify expectations or push a decision forward.

By contrast, UK clients tend to value transparency and independence. Feedback is more direct, and project timelines are clearer from the outset. In this context, being proactive, setting boundaries, and demonstrating confidence is expected — not seen as overstepping.

These cultural differences also influence how freelancers are perceived. In Taiwan, freelancing is still sometimes seen as a temporary or less stable career path compared to traditional employment. This can impact pricing expectations, client respect, and even self-esteem. In the UK, the freelance economy is more established, and creative freelancers are often treated as valuable contributors with niche expertise.

Even communication styles vary. In Taiwan, clients often prefer communicating via messaging apps like LINE, sometimes with vague instructions or last-minute changes. In the UK, email is preferred, and written contracts are more common — reducing ambiguity. This contrast taught me the importance of adapting my communication approach depending on the client's cultural background.

Freelancers must also be sensitive to design preferences shaped by local aesthetics, traditions, or social values. For example, I once created event visuals using red and gold (symbolising celebration in Taiwan) only to realise that a UK client interpreted them as overly aggressive. Small cultural missteps like this can affect a project’s reception.

Key Insight: Cultural intelligence helps freelancers build trust, avoid miscommunication, and offer more thoughtful, tailored services.

Ultimately, freelancing across cultures has taught me humility, empathy, and the value of listening more than speaking. It’s an ongoing learning process — but one that makes you a stronger, more adaptable professional.