Business Etiquette in Germany

Meeting Etiquette
1) . Greetings are formal.
2) . A quick, firm handshake is the traditional greeting.
3) . Titles are very important and denote respect. Use a person's
title and their surname until invited to use their first name. You
should say Herr or Frau and the person's title and their
surname.
4) . In general, wait for your host or hostess to introduce you to a
group.
5) . When entering a room, shake hands with everyone
individually, including children.

Gift Giving Etiquette

1) . If you are invited to a German's house, bring a gift such as
chocolates or flowers.
2) . Yellow roses or tea roses are always well received.
3) . Do not give red roses as they symbolize romantic intentions.

4) . Do not give carnations as they symbolize mourning.

5) . Do not give lilies or chrysanthemums as they are used at
funerals.
6) . If you bring wine, it should be imported, French or Italian.
Giving German wines is viewed as meaning you do not think
the host will serve a good quality wine.
7) . Gifts are usually opened when received.

Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a German's house:
1) . Arrive on time as punctuality indicates proper planning. Never
arrive early.
2) . Never arrive more than 15 minutes later than invited without
telephoning to explain you have been detained.
3) . Send a handwritten thank you note the following day to thank
your hostess for her hospitality.
Table manners

1) . Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown

to a particular seat.
2) . Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left
hand and the knife in the right while eating.
3) . Do not begin eating until the hostess starts or someone says
'guten appetit' (good appetite).
4) . At a large dinner party, wait for the hostess to place her
napkin in her lap before doing so yourself.
5) . Do not rest your elbows on the table.
6) . Do not cut lettuce in a salad. Fold it using your knife and fork.
7) . Cut as much of your food with your fork as possible, since this
compliments the cook by indicating the food is tender.
8) . Finish everything on your plate.
9) . Rolls should be broken apart by hand.
10) . Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork

parallel across the right side of your plate, with the fork over the
knife.

11) . The host gives the first toast.

12) . An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
13) . The most common toast with wine is 'Zum Wohl!' ('good

health').
14). The most common toast with beer is 'Prost!' ('good health').
Business Etiquette and Protocol in Germany
Relationships & Communications
1) . Germans do not need a personal relationship in order to do
business.
2) . They will be interested in your academic credentials and the

amount of time your company has been in business.

3) . Germans display great deference to people in authority, so it

is imperative that they understand your level relative to their

own.
4) . 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.

5) . German communication is formal.

6) . Following the established protocol is critical to building and

maintaining business relationships.

7) . As a group, Germans are suspicious of hyperbole, promises

that sound too good to be true, or displays of emotion.

8) . Germans will be direct to the point of bluntness.

9) . Expect a great deal of written communication, both to back up

decisions and to maintain a record of decisions and
discussions.
Business Meeting Etiquette
1) . Appointments are mandatory and should be made 1 to 2
weeks in advance.
2) . Letters should be addressed to the top person in the

functional area, including the person's name as well as their

proper business title.
3) . If you write to schedule an appointment, the letter should be

written in German.

4) . Punctuality is taken extremely seriously. If you expect to be

delayed, telephone immediately and offer an explanation. It is

extremely rude to cancel a meeting at the last minute and it
could jeopardize your business relationship.
5) . Meetings are generally formal.
6) . Initial meetings are used to get to know each other. They allow

your German colleagues to determine if you are trustworthy.

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

ending times.
8) . Maintain direct eye contact while speaking.
9) . Although English may be spoken, it is a good idea to hire an

interpreter so as to avoid any misunderstandings.

10) . 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:
11) . The eldest or highest ranking person enters the room first.

12). Men enter before women, if their age and status are roughly
equivalent.

Business Negotiation
1) . Do not sit until invited and told where to sit. There is a rigid
protocol to be followed.
2) . Meetings adhere to strict agendas, including starting and
ending times.
3) . Treat the process with the formality that it deserves.
4) . Germany is heavily regulated and extremely bureaucratic.
5) . Germans prefer to get down to business and only engage in
the briefest of small talk. They will be interested in your
credentials.
6) . Make sure your printed material is available in both English
and German.
7) . Contracts are strictly followed.
8) . 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.
9) . Business is hierarchical. Decision-making is held at the top of
the company.

10). Final decisions are translated into rigorous, comprehensive

action steps that you can expect will be carried out to the letter.
11) . Avoid confrontational behaviour or high- pressure tactics. It
can be counterproductive.
12). Once a decision is made, it will not be changed.

Dress Etiquette
1) . Business dress is understated, formal and conservative.
2) . Men should wear dark coloured, conservative business suits.
3) . Women should wear either business suits or conservative

dresses.
4) . Do not wear ostentatious jewellery or accessories