Business Etiquette in Germany

8/20/2019 Business Etiquette in Germany

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usiness Etiquette in Germany

Meeting Etiquette

1) . Greetings are formal.

2) . A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.

3) . Titles are ver im!ortant and denote res!ect. "se a !erson#s

title and their surname until invited to use their first name. $ou

should sa %err or &rau and the !erson#s title and their

surname.

') . (n general, ait for our host or hostess to introduce ou to a

grou!.

*) . +hen entering a room, shake hands ith everone

individuall, including children.

Gift Giving Etiquette

1) . (f ou are invited to a German#s house, ring a gift such as

chocolates or floers.

2) . $ello roses or tea roses are alas ell received.

3) . -o not give red roses as the smolie romantic intentions.


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1) . 5emain standing until invited to sit don. $ou ma e shon

to a !articular seat.

2) . Tale manners are 6ontinental 77 the fork is held in the left

hand and the knife in the right hile eating.

3) . -o not egin eating until the hostess starts or someone sas

#guten a!!etit# 8good a!!etite).

') . At a large dinner !art, ait for the hostess to !lace her

na!kin in her la! efore doing so ourself.

*) . -o not rest our elos on the tale.

/) . -o not cut lettuce in a salad. &old it using our knife and fork.

0) . 6ut as much of our food ith our fork as !ossile, since this

com!liments the cook indicating the food is tender.

8) . &inish everthing on our !late.

9) . 5olls should e roken a!art hand.

10) . (ndicate ou have finished eating laing our knife and fork

!arallel across the right side of our !late, ith the fork over the

knife.


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11) . The host gives the first toast.

12) . An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.

13) . The most common toast ith ine is #9um +ohl:# 8#good

health#).

1'). The most common toast ith eer is #;rost:# 8#good health#).

nock and ait to e invited in

efore entering.


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5) . German communication is formal.

6) . &olloing the estalished !rotocol is critical to uilding and

maintaining usiness relationshi!s.

7) . As a grou!, Germans are sus!icious of h!erole, !romises

that sound too good to e true, or dis!las of emotion.

8). Germans ill e direct to the !oint of luntness.

?) . E!ect a great deal of ritten communication, oth to ack u!

decisions and to maintain a record of decisions and

discussions.


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4) . ;unctualit is taken etremel seriousl. (f ou e!ect to e

delaed, tele!hone immediatel and offer an e!lanation. (t is

etremel rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it

could eo!ardie our usiness relationshi!.

5) . Meetings are generall formal.

6) . (nitial meetings are used to get to kno each other. The allo

our German colleagues to determine if ou are trustorth.

7) . Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and

ending times.

8) . Maintain direct ee contact hile s!eaking.

9) . Although English ma e s!oken, it is a good idea to hire an

inter!reter so as to avoid an misunderstandings.

10) . At the end of a meeting, some Germans signal their a!!roval

ra!!ing their knuckles on the taleto!.There is a strict

!rotocol to follo hen entering a room

11) . The eldest or highest ranking !erson enters the room first.

12). Men enter efore omen, if their age and status are roughl

equivalent.


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1C). &inal decisions are translated into rigorous, com!rehensive

action ste!s that ou can e!ect ill e carried out to the letter.

11) . Avoid confrontational ehaviour or high7 !ressure tactics. (t

can e counter!roductive.

12). Dnce a decision is made, it ill not e changed.

-ress Etiquette

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Documents

Business Etiquette in Germany