The Job Talk section of The Local listed 10 German business etiquette tips that would be good additions to the repertoire of any foreign businessman or woman. I think the 25 March 2013 issue hits the nail on the head. If you want to make a good impression and be a successful negotiator in the German business world, consider the following:
1. PUNCTUALITY – Be on Time. Arriving late for an appointment suggests that you don’t value your associate’s time. That’s an insult.
2. FORMALITY – Unless you are invited to use first names, always address colleagues and business associates by their title and surnames.
3. HANDSHAKE – Shake hands before and after a meeting. Keep the handshake firm and brief. A weak one will suggest that you are unsure of your abilities.
The handshake
Keep it brief and firm
4. DRESSCODE – German business attire is usually reserved and conservative. Men and women wear suits and few, if any, pieces of jewelry. Don’t try to outdo them.
5. SMALL TALK – Keep small talk to a minimum and don’t discuss your personal life.
6. PRIVACY – Respect your colleagues’ and associates’ privacy. Always knock before entering. Don’t call superiors and associates at home.
7. DISTANCE – Observe the personal space of others. Shake hands, but don’t get too folksy by touching their arms or shoulders.
8. NO HARD SELL – If you have something to sell, present the facts as thoroughly as you can so that the other person can reach their own conclusion. Don’t bother with a hard sell. It is only insulting.
9. PLAN AHEAD – Your contacts have a full calendar as well. Last minute cancellations and changes are inconsiderate.
10. MEALS – If attending a business meal, wait for your host to initiate when to eat, drink, and make conversation.
Too often, there is a tendency to think that German business people follow the same set of rules as their foreign counterparts. Not necessarily so. The German business world is still fairly structured. When in Rome, do as the Romans. And when in Germany, do as the Germans. Good luck with your next business meeting in Germany. For additional information, please visit www.thelocal.de.
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Walled-In is my story of growing up in Berlin during the Cold War. Juxtaposing the events that engulfed Berlin during the Berlin Blockade, the Berlin Airlift, the Berlin Wall and Kennedy’s Berlin visit with the struggle against my equally insurmountable parental walls, Walled-In is about freedom vs. conformity, conflict vs. harmony, domination vs. submission, loyalty vs. betrayal.
