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Did you know...?• Alpha Translations Canada Inc. can translate your projects into various different languages! • Alpha Translations Canada Inc. is a sponsor at this years' Juve-Awards in Frankfurt, Germany! • Alpha Translations Canada Inc. still works with many of the same translators that started with us 15 years ago! • Alpha Translations Canada Inc. has turned around projects with a volume of 800 pages within 5 days! Cultural GuidesThis month we would like to introduce a new column to our newsletter. Our "Cultural Guides" are designed to help the international traveller understand other cultures and their conventions so that nothing stands in the way of a successful business meeting! We will introduce a different country every month and since Alpha Translations Canada Inc. has close ties with Germany we would like to start there... Making Appointments Never underestimate the importance of punctuality in German business culture. Arriving even five to ten minutes later than the appointed time is perceived as late, especially if you are a subordinate. Fifteen minutes would be considered a very serious faux pas and could mean a shaky start to any potential business relations. Be prepared to make an appointment for most things..... Make your appointments well in advance. Give at least one or two weeks notice for an appointment made by telephone; allow at least a month for an appointment made by mail. If you don't have much preparation time, it's sometimes possible to arrange for a brief, introductory meeting within a few days' notice. If you must be late for any reason, it's important that you call and notify the person who is expecting you. Moreover, you should give a plausible explanation for the delay. The preferred times for business appointments are between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. or between 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. Avoid scheduling appointments on Friday afternoons, as some offices close by 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.... Guidelines for Business Dress You will notice in both social situations and on a daily basis that Germans tend to "dress up" much more than, for example, North Americans when they go out. This goes as much for walking the dog or shopping at the supermarket as for going to restaurants and cafes. Dress shoes worn with jeans and a tastefully-coordinated ensemble is quite normal for adult men and women. So when you receive an invitation stating "informal" dress, don't assume you'll be welcome arriving in a T-shirt and sweatpants.... General Guidelines "Small talk" with strangers does not have a significant social function in German culture as it does in very relationship-oriented cultures [e.g. Mediterranean, South American, African, Middle Eastern countries] or the large immigration countries. Be prepared to take the first step as the newcomer to introduce yourself to an established group when you arrive in a new environment. Unless you are specifically invited to join a group, do not automatically expect the established group to send out the "welcome wagon".... Welcome Topics of Conversation Giving compliments is not part of German business protocol and can often cause embarrassment and awkwardness. Employees would, of course, be appreciative of praise from superiors, but do not expect it. Compliments, especially from strangers or very casual acquaintances can, in fact, be taken with suspicion ["What does he/she really mean to say or want?"]. Germans traditionally use "Wie geht es Ihnen?" ["How are you?"] as a literal question that expects a literal answer, in contrast to the common English usage of "How's it going?" to simply meaning "Hi". It may, therefore, be considered strange or superficial to ask the question and keep on moving without waiting for an answer. Many people, when asked, will, in fact, give you a very detailed answer, including why they are not doing well at that moment! Sports, particularly soccer [the national sport], travel, recent holidays, current events, politics [if you know what you're talking about], work and professions, your previous experiences and travels in Germany and other parts of Europe [just make sure you know your geography!]. Among those who imbibe, beer is often a good topic of conversation. Germany produces some of the finest beers in the world, and seasoned drinkers enjoy comparing and contrasting the qualities of the various brews available. Topics to Avoid Personal questions [especially salary, cost of personal objects] among people you don't know or know well, especially in a business environment [work and family life are usually kept separate]. Please click here to read the complete German Culture Guide! |
