Cactus Language Blog

Business etiquette in Germany

Posted by simonager under German, Learning a language

When doing business in Germany or with Germans elsewhere, it is a very good idea to familiarise yourself with German business etiquette to ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.

It is best to make appointments for meetings well in advance – at least a week or two’s notice is needed for meetings arranged by phone, and at least a month’s notice for meetings arranged by post. This gives everyone time to prepare thoroughly. Make sure you arrive on time for meetings, and don’t forget to call your contact in the organisation if you’re going to be late, giving a plausible excuse.

In large corporations and banks, Germans tend to dress formally in dark, conservative suits, and it’s best to follow their example when doing business with them. Elsewhere dress codes tend to be more casual, except for senior managers, though not as casual as in the UK and USA.

When meeting for the first time, it is usual for the person highest in a company’s hierarchy to introduce their colleagues. However if you go to work in a German office, you will probably have to introduce yourself to your new colleagues.

It is not necessary to establish personal relationships when doing business in Germany. More importance is given to your academic qualifications and the length of time your company has existed. Great deference is given to those in authority, therefore it is essential that you understand your position in relation to others.

During meetings it is best to avoid lapsing into informality or showing emotion, and cracking jokes is a bad idea – they have their place in informal get-togethers after work, but not in the office. Also keep small talk to a minimum, and make sure you are well prepared for meetings, and that you stick to the agenda. If you don’t speak German, it can be helpful to have an interpreter, even though your German counterparts will probably speak English. This will avoid misunderstandings. It is also good practice to have your company literature translated into German and to bring this to meetings. At the end of meetings your German colleagues indicate their approval of what’s been discussed by rapping their knuckles on the table.

After any meetings there may be a lot of written correspondence to iron out details of deals and contracts, to back up decisions, and to maintain a record. It may take some time for an agreement to be reached as Germans like to understand every detail first. Any deals that are made will be stuck to and carried out to the letter. Changes cannot usually be made afterwards.

About the author
Simon Ager runs a company that provides information and advice about languages mainly via the website www.omniglot.com.

Tags:business, etiquette, German, Germany