Culture

Religion

Protestant, Roman Catholic, Muslim minority.

Cultural classification

Linear-active, data-oriented

Languages

German

Values and core beliefs

Cultural black holes

The relatively harmless German cultural black hole is national self-trust – something you can see in the Finns and Japanese too. This means that a German who meets another German at the other end of the world may place a great deal of trust in him or her, without necessarily checking things. This national self-trust is not found amongst many other cultures, for example the French, Russians or Italians. But the German may be blind to his/her fellow German’s failings, sometimes to the strengths of foreign nationalities too. Even so, the Germans see themselves as more honestly efficient than anybody else.

Concept of space

Germans need less personal space or independence at work than Scandinavians or Americans, but they enthusiastically protect their rights to what space they have. It should not be reduced, interfered with or invaded by others. Working life and private life are usually kept strictly separate. Privacy is important and when a door is closed (as they often are) you should knock before entering.

Germans like to get close before greeting. They avoid shouting hellos across a crowded room or waving dramatically in airport arrival halls. Making a public scene of this sort would be seen as an emotional loss of control or discipline. In formal situations a polite distance is maintained, but physical contact is not always avoided in public spaces. When you bump into a German in a shop, a corridor or a train gangway, apologies are restrained rather than effusive.

Germans are less than orderly in their attitude to queuing. Sometimes they are willing to wait their turn according to who came first. Sometimes they are organised by a ticketed queuing system. At other times Germans may push past each other to get to the front of a crowd, or even a clear line of queuers. There is no strong tradition of queuing in Germany.

Concept of time

Germans are the most punctual of all peoples. Foreigners arriving late for appointments will be reminded of their lateness which will be seen as a sign of unreliability by Germans. ‘Arriving late’ may mean a delay of just two or three minutes. Schedules, action plans and deliveries are strictly observed.

Germans value their leisure time greatly and will not welcome your attempts to cut into it with work. Meetings on Friday afternoons, when many offices close early, are not popular.


This diagram shows a linear concept where one plans tasks in a sequential fashion, completing each one before going on to the next. One proceeds in agenda-like fashion, segmenting issues and solving problems one at a time.

Self image

Germans see themselves as the most punctual, reliable, honest and efficient people in the world. There is a lot of national self-trust. They are most conscious of their strong work ethic and sense of order (Ordnung).

Culture: communication

Communication patterns

The German communication style is frank, open, direct and often loud. Truth comes before diplomacy. Many foreigners are surprised by the directness and honesty of Germans. Arguments are well-thought out, logical and weighty. Their speech style is serious, often unsmiling and frequently repetitive. Germans do not seek humour in a work context, even when a joke may lighten the atmosphere. They do not look for a light working climate. There are few taboo subjects in Germany, and for many Germans, none at all.



In the diagrams depicting communication patterns, the depth of the initial segment generally gives some indication of the relative verbosity of the speaker.

Barriers to the speech flow or progress of the meeting are shown by orange shaded divisions.

At the end (on the right) there is usually a comment on what the outcome was (e.g. clarity, inconclusive, etc).

Body language and non-verbal communication

Restrained. Facial expression is unsmiling at the start, but softens gradually.

Listening habits

Germans listen well because they are disciplined and always willing to learn more. They have a long attention span when absorbing information and especially like repetition and plenty of background information. Germans rarely expect or want to be entertained in a work context. They are serious-minded and when they hear your carefree comments, they may interpret them as important statements and ask for more information, examples or details. Simple messages sound incomplete to German ears.


In the diagrams depicting listening habits, the orange zones indicates the areas of receptive, uncomplicated listening.

The yellow zones indicate the areas of complication or conflict.

Audience expectations at presentations

• solidity of company
• solidity of product
• technical info
• context
• beginning – middle – ending
• lots of print
• few or no jokes
• good price
• quality
• delivery date

Culture: interaction

Concept of status

In earlier times, status was the privilege of upper class and noble families. Status in modern Germany is gained by professional achievements and by exceptional qualifications. Intellectuals are admired more than leading business or military figures. In communist East Germany working people were less achievement-oriented and more dependent on networks of friends. The culture in that part of Germany is changing as people become more results-oriented and independent-minded. Some tensions exist between the two traditions.

Gender issues

German women expect equality with men at work, but many still choose to follow the strong tradition of the full-time Hausfrau (housewife) instead of building careers of their own. Women take their place in the hierarchy according to education and experience and command the respect of men on that basis. No special behaviour is expected by (or in the presence of) women: they should be treated with the same respect as any colleague gets.

Leadership style

The basic principle of German management is that you put the most experienced, best-educated person at the top and he/she instructs and guides meticulously his/her immediate inferior. Orders are passed down through the management structure in this manner. Though leadership is consequently hierarchical and autocratic, German leaders do listen to suggestions “from the factory floor”, as German workers are generally well-educated and inventive. In this way, consensus plays a part in German business. Hierarchy, however, generally dominates.



Language of management

Germans belong to a data-oriented, low context culture and like receiving detailed information and instruction to guide them in the performance of tasks at which they wish to excel. In business situations German is not used in a humorous way, neither do its rigid case-endings and strict word order allow the speaker to think aloud very easily. With few homonyms (in contrast, for example, to Chinese) and a transparent word-building system, the language is especially conducive to the issuing of clear orders. The almost invariable use of the Sie form in business fits in well with the expectation of obedience and reinforces the hierarchical nature of the communication.

As far as motivating subordinates is concerned, German would seem to be less flexible than, for instance, bubbly American English. The constrictive effect of case-endings makes it difficult for German speakers to chop and change in the middle of a sentence. They embark on a course, plotted partly by gender, partly by morphology, in a straitjacket of Teutonic word order. The verb coming at the end obliges the hearer to listen carefully in order to extract the full meaning. The length and complexity of German sentences reflect the German tendency to distrust simple utterances. Information-hungry Germans are among the best listeners in the world; their language fits the bill.



Motivation factors

Germans are generally well-dressed, punctual, organised and efficient. You must match these qualities.
In business their strong points are competitive pricing, quality of goods and reliable delivery dates. Your own efforts must reflect these features.
Whatever you promise a German, you must deliver. If you fail in some respect, apologize immediately. They like receiving apologies, it makes them feel better.
Then you must compensate.
Germans hate misunderstandings; therefore you should strive to avoid them. Be willing to go over details time and time again.
When Germans criticize your actions, it is to help you avoid making mistakes. Accept their criticism as being constructive.
You may also point out their errors frankly, but make sure you are right.
Put as much in writing as you can. You can be as wordy as you like, they will read it.
Germans like people to conform, therefore do not display too much eccentricity.
Once you have established your status (qualifications, competence, dress, reputation) then live up to it.
Use surnames and respect their titles. There are many Doktors in Germany.
Give serious answers to serious questions. Germans are uneasy when confronted with flippancy or (in their eyes) inappropriate humour.
Be well prepared on the issues. They usually are.
Although Germans value frankness, do not meet them head on if you see their position is diametrically opposed to yours. Seek common ground – Germans like sharing.
Always make sure you are talking to the right person, that is, in the right department and at the right level. Germans are hierarchical and do not like to be bypassed.
Display trust and expect it from them.
They like consensus. Consult all people concerned before embarking on a course of action.
Say what you mean – irony, sarcasm and subtle undertones usually fall on deaf ears.
When Germans say they have a ‘problem’ it usually means that there is an issue they wish to discuss. Most often a solution will be reached. Be positive.
German companies are often successful because they have established reliable processes and procedures during their history. Respect these and do not seek change for change’s sake.
In general it is a good policy to obey rules and laws without questioning them very much. They are not as flexible as Italians or as open-minded as Americans.
Subordinates should be helped, advised and monitored, but once a German has had a task fully explained, then he/she should be left to get on with it.
They like to finish action chains. Do not interrupt unfinished tasks or give them too many simultaneously. They are not multi-active Latins.
Respect privacy at all times, both with regard to the person and the company’s activities. Information does not flow freely in Germany.
Germans do not believe that life is simple. When they may appear to over-complicate things, do not fall into the trap of over-simplifying. Germans often see Americans and some others as naïve.
Do not overdo small talk with Germans. They like facts, figures, reliable information.
Remember to shake hands a lot and use proper greetings on meeting and departing.
German friendships are worthwhile. Work hard at them and maintain the relationship.

General behaviour at meetings

Dress, seating and manner of address will all be formal. Protocol is important and agendas are followed faithfully. They are willing to discuss details at an early stage, as opposed to French and Americans who want the grand outline now and details later. Germans like to conclude small deals in the initial stages of a relationship to give them experience with the partner and a ‘taste’ of bigger deals in the future.

Meetings start (and continue) formally, with proper introductions, firm handshakes, typically with women too. A similar process follows at the meeting’s close. Dress in German business is very conservative. Dark suits, white shirts and ties are standard for men and women wear nothing too eye-catching. There is no excuse for untidy appearance, even at the end of a long day or a difficult journey.


Key to Diagram

Linear-active people need relatively little preamble or small talk before getting down to business. They like to introduce bullet points which can serve as an agenda. Tasks or issues are segmented, discussed and dealt with one after the other. Solutions reached are summarised in the minutes.

Negotiating characteristics

Germans have their own particular style of conducting meetings and negotiations, and you may find that procedures with big German companies are much more formalised than in your country. It is generally advisable to adopt a rather more formal approach with Germans at meetings and to note the following German characteristics, to which one must react appropriately:

Germans will arrive at the meeting well-dressed and with a disciplined appearance. You must match this.
They will observe hierarchical seating and order of speaking.
They will arrive well-informed as to the business and expect you to be also.
They will present logical, often weighty arguments to support their case.
They often have thought over your possible counter-arguments and have their second line of attack ready.
They do not concede their case or arguments easily, but tend to look for common ground. This is often your best approach to make progress. Head-on collision with a sizeable German company seldom leads to results.
They believe they are more efficient (gründlich) than others and do not change position easily.
They compartmentalize their arguments, each member speaking about his/her speciality. They expect your side to do the same.
They do not interfere with a colleague’s remarks and generally show good team-work throughout. They do, however, argue with each other in private between sessions. As they are not poker-faced (like Japanese) or simulating (like French) it is often possible to detect difference of opinion among them by their facial expressions or by their body language.
Like Japanese, they like to go over details time and time again. They wish to avoid misunderstanding later. You must be patient. They are gründlich, not stupid.
They don’t like being rushed.
They are willing to make decisions within meetings (unlike the Japanese or French), but they are always cautious.
They generally stick to what they have agreed orally.
If you are selling to them they will question you aggressively on what are German strong points, e.g. quality of goods, delivery dates, and competitive price. Be ready.
They expect, in the end, to get the very best (lowest) price. They may only give you a little ‘trial’ business even at that. Take it – it will lead to much more business later if they are satisfied.
They will look earnestly for deficiencies in your products or services and will criticise you openly (even energetically) if you fail to match up to all your claims. Be prepared to apologise if you have failed in some respect.
They can be very sensitive to criticism themselves, therefore you must go to great lengths to avoid embarrassing them (sometimes you may do this unwittingly).
Do not introduce humour or jokes during business meetings. They are not Americans, they don’t like kidding. Business is a serious business. Tell them funny stories afterwards over a beer. You will find many of their stories unfunny or heavy. Do your best to laugh.
They will write up their notes carefully and come back well-prepared the next day. It is advisable for you to do the same.
Germans generally have good language abilities (esp. English and French) but often suffer from lack of knowledge of foreign cultures (they may know a lot less about your country than you think they know). They like to use German whenever they can.
They are generally convinced that they are the most honest, reliable and sincere people in the world, also in their business negotiations. Show them that in this respect you are their equal.

Clothes, seating and manner of address will all be formal. Protocol is important and agendas are followed faithfully, with little or no small talk to start. General talk of opportunities and risks do not convince Germans unless they can be quantified in some way. Make sure that you have figures to back up your arguments. Remember that for Germans a deal is not a deal until it is in writing. Only then can it be relied on.

The pace of German corporate decision-making is much slower than in the United States, for example, but there is long-term thinking. If you impress them with your early actions, they will want to develop a solid partnership with you. Bureaucracy is inevitable and likely to be complex. Trying to find shortcuts is more likely to make the process longer than shorter. Rules are rules and are almost never broken.

Contracts and commitments

Germans fulfil contracts and they expect their contractual partners to do likewise. When Germans make a contract, they make sure, through detailed analysis and planning, that their obligations are realistic and deliverable. Many other nationalities see this attitude as inflexibility. In German eyes, it is not inflexibility but reliability. Proving reliability is a principal aim of contractual partners in Germany, and in the early stages this may be more important than turning a profit. Changes to contracts are not expected and rarely welcomed.

German contracts are detailed and specific. The procedures they set out may be complex and bureaucratic. When signing up with German partners, it is best not to view the document as only a starting point, but as a definite plan for the period of the contract. Germans focus most on the practical issues, but you cannot afford to ignore the human issues completely. Fulfilling contracts faithfully is the way to build trusting relationships in Germany.

Manners and taboos

Germans are great conformists and generally do the expected rather than the unexpected. Open criticism of opponents and colleagues is acceptable. The right to privacy, both at home and in one’s office, is paramount. Eccentricity, ostentation, unpunctuality and disobedience are frowned upon.

How to empathize with them

Be frank, truthful and as honest as possible. Respect their bluntness and accept criticism when it is directed towards you. Keep in regular touch – they are good correspondents. German businesspeople do not give or expect to receive expensive gifts. Gift-giving often follows successful business, or happens with loyal clients at certain times of the year. Remember the importance of local Land (Federal state) identity. Being a Bavarian may be more important to your host than being a German, for example. Look for common ground in your and their views. Learn some German and use it. Show that you place trust in them. Avoid irony, sarcasm and quick wit. The people of Germany do have a sense of humour, but they do not use it at work. What amuses a German will not get all other cultures laughing too.

Special notes

Germans come in for a lot of criticism especially from Americans and Australians who are averse to too much discipline and rigidity in society. The following items show both sides of the issues:

Appearance and reality

Germans are time-dominated, punctuality is an obsession.

Time is central to German culture. It is one of the principal ways of organising life.

Germans are slow at making decisions, as they discuss things too long.

Germans have a consensus decision-making process, which requires extensive background research and often lateral clearances.

Germans give you very lengthy explanations, going right back to the beginning of every matter.

Germans, when explaining something, like to lay a proper foundation. For them events in the present are a result of the past. Historical context is important.

Delays in delivering things are common in Germany. This contradicts their love of promptness.

Germans plan well into the future. They are not preoccupied with immediate results or deliveries.

Germans are not good at providing quarterly financial reports according to the American system.

Germans prefer annual reports. Three months is too short a time frame to be meaningful. Writing quarterly reports disrupts normal work.

Americans and Australians find the pace of German business life too slow.

Germans like to complete action chains and wish to be thorough (gründlich) rather than speedy.

Germans are too private. They do not interact well with foreigners and are not mobile. They don’t lend things easily.

Germany is not a melting-pot society like the USA or Australia, where people have developed strategies for interacting with strangers. Privacy is important in order to complete action chains without interruption. They don’t borrow things easily.

Germans are too formal, using only surnames with office colleagues even after 20 years.

Formality and use of surnames are signs of respect.

Germans are stiff, distant and do not smile much.

In Germany, smiling is for friends. They are more reserved when being introduced to people than, for instance, Americans or Australians. Smiles are not always sincere!

Germans don’t like people standing too close to them or touching them.

In Germany, the ‘distance of comfort’ is approximately 1.2 metres. It is a non-tactile culture.

Germans don’t like you entering their office. They get upset if you move a chair or item of furniture.

Privacy is important for concentration on work. Offices (and homes) should be kept in good order. Why move things? The layout has been carefully planned.

You always have to knock on the door before entering a German’s office.

Yes. It is good manners.

There is too much secrecy in German organisations. Information does not flow freely.

Knowledge is power. Also compartmentalization of German companies hinders lateral information flow. Power flows from the top down.

Germans admire military and economic power more than other kinds.

Not true. They admire intellectual power most. Many heads of German firms have Doctoral degrees.

Germans display power and influence through material possessions – fine offices, homes, cars, clothes. They are less modest about those than, say, the British.

Germans like to display symbols of power and success, but handle them with much more grace and reserve than, for instance, Americans.

Germans are noisy people.

True only of German tourists abroad. In meetings, the most powerful person usually speaks in a soft voice.

Germans have too many rules and regulations and do not take human needs into consideration sufficiently.

Germans believe good procedures and processes solve most problems and give order paramount importance to create general well- being.

Germans are too law-abiding, conform too much and are always worried about what others will think.

German sense of order requires conformity. Signs and directions are there to be obeyed. Eccentrics or law-breakers do not gain sympathy as they might do in the UK, France or Australia.

Decentralisation and compartmentalisation represent serious handicaps in German business.

These are structural features in German society. Germany was unified late and dislikes too much central power. The Länder are still important. Unlike the French, they prefer dispersion of power.

German possessions, especially furniture, buildings, cars, TV sets, are heavy and lack grace.

Germans like solidarity in all things. Cars are made to last 10-15 years. Doors, houses, chairs, and tables should be solid – also characters!

Germans have a mania for keeping things in spotless order. They are always washing cars, windows, floors, and constantly servicing equipment.

Germans do not believe in waste. If you keep things in good order they will last longer. German goods are of high quality and deserve proper upkeep.

Pa ja imam neke primjedbe u vezi ovih uporedbi.Nisu Nijemci toliko uštogljeni i ukočeni a ni opsjednuti nepotrebnom tačnošću.No istina je da ne vole gubljenje vremena, ali takodje poštuju i tudje poslovno i slobodno vrijeme.
Malo teze se opuštaju u društvu, no ta osobina nije vezana isključivo za prisustvo stranaca.I u društvu sunarodnjaka se slično ponašaju.Privatno i poslovno se strogo odvaja, no to ima i svoje pozitivne osobine.Nikad ne dolaziš u nemoguće situacije sa podredjenim i nadredjenim.

Ako se ljudi privatno previše zblizavaju u poslovnim kontaktima to moze grubo poremetiti poslovni odnos, a i privatnu sferu.Jer ako si blizak s nekim pretjerano ili ti gubiš poslovni autoritet ili ta osoba, obaveze se ne obavljaju azurno i sl.

Čak i ako nije prisutna veza izmedju podredjenog i nadredjenog i kolegijalnost i isti poslovni status je u pitanju, prilikom prevelike prisnosti gubi se zdrava poslovna konkurencija.A ona je dobar pokretač poslovnog uspijeha.

Tako da ti navodni nedostaci ako se pravilno promatraju su ustvari prednosti.

Austrijanci su kritičnija skupina po tim pitanjima nacionalizma od Nijemaca.Nijemci ponekad ostanu bukvalno šokirani njihovom otvorenošću i bezobrazlukom u svakodnevnoj komunikaciji

Puno su Nijemci suptilniji i obazriviji od Austrijanaca.

To su činjenice.

Austrijanci su ponosni svojom ulogom u WWII. Razbacuju se okolo javno sa onim crnim križevima iz tog rata. Nitko oko toga ne pravi velike probleme.

Prvi put čujem. Na koje križeve misliš?

Rondela luftvafe

Ovo nema veze s nacizmom, ali očito je taqiya prejaka

Mislim da je generaliziranje Nijemaca jedna velika greska, to je zemlja sa vise razlicitosti medju narodima nego u bilo kojoj drugoj europskoj drzavi, pa njih ima preko 80 mil.
Generalno se moze razlikovati juzni mentalitet (Bavarska i Baden Wurttemberg) zapadni mentalitet to je regija oko Kelna, onda imate i sjeverni mentalitet to je sve sjeverno od Hannovera, i istocni koji je u republikama bivseg DDR-a.
Npr. razlika izmedju nekog sjevernjaka iz Kiela i nekog juznjaka iz Passaua je odprilike kao izmedju Slovenca i Makedonca ako ne i veca, religija, jezik, kultura, mentalitet itd. sve im je razlicito.

Zašto se ti uvijek petljaš u nešto o čemu malo ili ništa znaš.
Jesi ti ikad izašao iz tog Zagreba.

Inače za Marija. Na takvim mjestima vidiš sve slike lokalnih osoba poginulih u tom ratu, i 90% tamo ih je u oficirskim i vojnim uniformama, ovisno kakav su rang imali. Tih ostalih 10% civili, ili osobe čije slike u uniformi nisu mogli pronaći, pretpostavljam.
Tako da je tematika vrlo jasna, i o kojem periodu se radi.

Inače za Marija. Na takvim mjestima vidiš sve slike lokalnih osoba poginulih u tom ratu, i 90% tamo ih je u oficirskim i vojnim uniformama, ovisno kakav su rang imali. Tih ostalih 10% civili, ili osobe čije slike u uniformi nisu mogli pronaći, pretpostavljam.
Tako da je tematika vrlo jasna, i o kojem periodu se radi.