How Can I Maintain the Etiquette in Germany?
Germans are proud of "made in Germany" as a synonym of quality and reliability. They tend to be very neat and precise, which may lead to - sometimes lengthy - discussions and negotiations. Things are talked about and agreed upon in detail to avoid later misunderstanding. In business meetings, Germans are rather formal and direct. They tend to say exactly what they want and mean. They are decision making and problem solving oriented, eventhough these processes can be lengthy since all relevant details must be throroughly analysed.
Many Germans divide strictly between their business and private life. For example, some people might hesitate to speak about their personal income, marital status or other matters they consider to be private. It may take time for German business partners to have an informal talk. On the other hand, as Germans tend to be rather reliable, a well-established business and personal relationship cannot be destroyed too easily.
In general, the corporate dress code is formal. Casual wear is usually announced in advance. Shaking hands is always common when meeting business partners and friends.
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