PRESENTEDBY

ARUN KRISHNA KUMAR V V

German Business Etiquettes

Germany briefed

European country5th largest economyBerlin is the capitalWW II historical significanceFederal RepublicGerman spoken by 95% of populationCold climateFrankfurt, Berlin, MunichRoman Catholic, Protestants and Muslims

Introduction

Germany came into being as a confederation of 35 independent kingdoms.

It is a stable economy and stands as a symbol of modernization and technology.

It is often associated with big players like the Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Zeiss cameras, Lufthansa Airlines etc.

Germany is indefenite hub of business activity.

Quality driven business.

Greetings

Greet male counterparts with a firm handshake, accompanied by a slight nod of the head.

When being introduced to a woman, wait to see if she extends her hand.

Do not lengthen the handshake for a long time.

Doing Business with Germans

Punctuality is necessity in Germany. Arrive on time for every appointment, whether for business or social. Being late, even if it is only by a few minutes, is very insulting to a German executive.

In business situations, shake hands at both the beginning and the end of a meeting.

Business is viewed as being very serious, and Germans do not appreciate humor in a business context.

In business meetings, age takes precedence over youth. If you are in a group setting, the eldest person enters first.

Contd.

Germans do not like surprises. Sudden changes in business transactions, even if they may improve the outcome, are unwelcome.

The German thought process is extremely thorough, with each aspect of a project being examined in great detail.

This process is often times very time-intensive. However, once the planning is over, a project will move very quickly and deadlines are expected to be honored.

Always carry plenty of business cards along with you, Germans insist on exchanging business cards.

Treat women as equals.

Behaviour

When introduced, if wearing a hat, it is expected to take off and bow as a sign of respect and welcome.

Business Conversations should not begin unstructured.

Prior planning and requesting for the same should be done.

Things to be considered

Most Germans will think it odd if you try to initiate a conversation with them beyond just establishing that the chairs are available.

Genuine and corporate profile is expected for business talks.

Communication Etiquettes

German do business in their official language.Knowing their language or having a

translator is suggested.Germans love to talk on the telephone. While

important business decisions are not made over the phone.

They expect many follow up calls or faxes. Germans guard their private life, so do not

phone a German executive at home without permission.

Dining Etiquette

Never arrive early or late.Always try to be on time.Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than

invited without telephoning to explain you have been detained.

Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank your hostess for her hospitality.

Always address persons by last name.

Table Manners

Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be

shown to a particular seat.

Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone

says 'guten appetit' (good appetite).

The host gives the first toast.

An honored guest should return the toast later in the

meal.

. The most common toast with beer is 'Prost!' ('good

health‘).

Contd.

Left hand - Fork, Right hand - Knife.Keep both in your hands while eating. Don’t put the

knife or fork down except to drink or pick up bread. The knife (in your right hand) is also used to help discreetly guide food onto your fork (in your left hand).

Do not cut up an entire piece of meat at once. Cut off a bite-size piece and eat it before you cut off another piece.

Sometimes spoons are placed above the plate rather than on the side.

When finished, lay your knife and fork side by side on your plate pointing to the center, with the handles on the lower right rim (five o'clock position).

Contd.

Finger Foods - Outdoor Grill partyBeverages - Wine, BeerNapkins – place it next to plateToasting Hands on the Table – cautious about elbowTry New Foods – Don't say noClean Your Plate

Dressing Etiquettes

Business dress is understated, formal and conservative.

Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.

Women should wear either business suits or conservative dresses.

Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories.

Business Dress Code

Business Negotiation

Do not sit until invited and told where to sit.

Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and ending times.

Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.

Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic.

Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in the briefest of small talk.

They will be interested in your credentials.

Make sure your printed material is available in both English and German.

Contracts are strictly followed.

Business Negotiation

You must be patient and not appear ruffled by the strict adherence to protocol.

Germans are detail- oriented and want to understand every innuendo before coming to an agreement.

Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of the company.

Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter.

Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It can be counterproductive.

Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

Meeting Etiquettes

Germans do not have an open-door policy. People often work with their office door closed. Knock and wait to be invited in before entering.

As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.

Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2 weeks in advance.

Letters should be addressed to the top person in the functional area and should be in German.

At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their approval by rapping their knuckles on the tabletop.

There is a strict protocol to follow when entering a room: The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first. Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly

equivalent. Maintain direct eye- contact.

Gift Giving Etiquette

If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as chocolates or flowers.

Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.

Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.

Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.

Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at funerals.

If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian.

Gifts are usually opened when received.

Thank You For Your Attention !

Danke Für Ihre Aufmerksamkeit !