Business to Business In Germany -- 10 Things You Have to Consider First!

>Saturdays, take only one week's vacation, and count a
Do you consider doing business to business inday sick as holiday. Germans usually take up to five
Germany? Do you think you are able to leadweek's vacation, only work on weekends if their life
negotiations in Germany successfully? Do youdepends on, and would even count two hours sick as
consider sending your application to a Germana whole day sick. This lazy working schedule is alien in
Corporation? Read on to find out if you are ready.most other countries. Even though Germany is famous
If you are delicate, apathetic, inconsequential and trivialfor its disciplinary attitude, Germans have a tendency
in your approach as a manager, you may need totowards laziness. This, however, does not count for
consider carefully whether or not you would fit into themost Managers, whose tend to do business to
culture of a German corporation, or would be able tobusiness in Germany.
lead negotiations successfully.6. Loyality
With the following ten points you will find out if thereMany Germans don't stay with the same company all
are any difficulties doing business to business intheir working lives. German companies, who regularly
Germany.headhunting top employees from other companies, are
1. Leadersless committed to the tradition of employee loyalty that
German values favor leaders who are seen to beis favored by foreign corporations.
clearly dominating and charismatic in their style of7. Initiative
leadership. Though they are expected to encourageGerman staff lacks initiative. In German corporations
others to work as an integral part of the team, besubordinates are seldom involved in, and expected to
accessible, and share information, managers in Germancontribute to, the decision-making process. They may
companies are more distant. It is not unusual to find thejust be expected to follow orders and directives from
chief executive of a big German company making histhe top. Although German workers have little
way to his private office in his own private elevator!responsibility for their work, they do expect recognition
2. Employeesbeyond an acknowledgment that the job has been
In Germany there is often a complex system ofdone.
employee performance appraisal. The practice of8. Relationship
according job titles and minutely detailing an employee'sGerman people place less importance on getting to
responsibilities is common in German companies. Thisknow others well before entering into any kind of
can lead to complaints from Germans if they only getrelationship, be that a long-term working relationship or
vague indications of what they are supposed to do. Aone for a short-term purpose such as negotiating. It is
lack of clear direction, defined responsibility and goalsa widely held view in German culture that, so long as
can result in beginning to lose focus. Germanpeople are doing their job, developing a close working
employees then see their job as boring andrelationship with, or even trusting others, is not a
demotivating.requirement.
3. Leaders vs. Employees9. Addressing
German corporations unnaturally distance theirIn Germany, first name usage is reserved for close
employees by denying them any meaningfulfamily and friends. In the work place people are
responsibility that would make them feel partlyaddressed by the last name headed by the address,
responsible for the success of the company.unless someone offers differently.
4. Punctuality10. Status Symbolization
In Germany, punctuality is necessary and meetingsIn the German culture it is material goods, such as
start at the advertised time. Meetings go on for as longclothes, or the size of one's car or office, which
as committed followed by a time agenda. (visit forsymbolizes status.
further information)Consider these ten bullets and you will do business to
5. Lazinessbusiness in Germany more successfully.
It is uncommon for German employees to work