In Germany, generous personal distance is found between speakers in a conversation, at least an arm’s length is expected. Eye contact is also crucial, as it demonstrates attention and interest in a conversation. For those who are not used to this characteristic, it may seem weird and awkward at first, but avoiding eye contact may […]
Basically, everything’s been sorted out. It has been decided how the cooperation in the new joint venture will proceed. Negotiations have been underway for months and the objectives and areas of work have been defined in several meetings. Both the Germans and the French expect important advantages from the cooperation. Special appreciation Today, the German […]
A paramount point in the German business culture is task-orientation. The business matter is central and even determines the style of communication. This is the main reason for the German communication style being so upfront and direct, some may even perceive it as blunt. While doing business in Germany, it’s crucial to be able to […]
A lot of Germans tend to plan far ahead into the future, which is why meetings should be booked a few weeks in advance. Germans are quite time oriented, so once a meeting is booked, a change of date or time is quite uncommon. If the plan does however change, and it changes on your […]
Let’s take a look at the human resources department of a traditional German company that attaches great importance to good dealings with its personnel at all levels and lives up to this. One sunny morning, a young French engineer, graduate of a so-called French “elite university”, two representatives of the technical department and the HR […]
