Here’s What to Expect from the Friendly Invasion

By Tia Capps

With several German companies and suppliers rolling into town and setting up shop, Chattanooga is welcoming a whole new culture to the community

New neighbors mean new friendships, new business opportunities and a new set of obstacles for those of us unacquainted with German culture

Christian Höferle, a German native who has been living in the States for over five years, is, of course, an expert on German culture As as owner and CEO of Höferle Consulting, an intercultural solutions firm in Cleveland, TN, he helps locals and newcomers as they seek to establish common ground The following are some of his insights:

• Be direct. Germans don’t waste time on pleasantries. The concept of klarheit, meaning clarity, is ingrained into the German mindset from childhood. The idea of speaking one’s mind, eliminating guesswork, and avoiding ambiguity is understood as a gesture of respect, not as an act of personal criticism. So if you treat some German pals to dinner at a nice restaurant and they let you know they thought the food was mediocre, don’t be thrown. Honesty, even if blunt, is considered key to establishing strong interpersonal relationships in the German culture.

• Plan ahead. Germans tend to value planning ahead and to disapprove of improvising. So, if you’re participating in a group meeting with Germans, expect to be there a while. The concept of clarity being as important to them as it is, meetings may last for long periods of time. The same goes for presentations.

While Americans often offer humorous, general picture presentations, Germans go into explicit details and end up spending much more time presenting. 

They are usually prepared to answer follow-up questions and even hyper-research their topics to be able to answer every query that might come their way during a Q&A.

• Be on time. For many Germans, being a part of a group is important. Social responsibility and working for the greater good are highly regarded values in German culture. They maintain a consensus-driven society and try not to act against the interest of the group for their own sake. So being on time and leaving work when you say you will indicate reliability. Working overtime may be viewed as inefficiency and being late is simply not an option.

• Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification. The German language is full of direct commands like, "you must" and "you can’t." Linguistically, this can come off as impolite in American conversational culture, which could easily lead others to incorrect conclusions about the speaker’s intention. So, if something comes off as harsh, ask for a rephrase before taking offense.

• Don’t mix professional life with private life. "My home is my castle" is especially true within the German culture. Germans value the privacy of home and invite others into that space only after considering them friends – which doesn’t happen easily. The concept of friendship to Germans is treated more seriously than we understand it. They usually claim only a very small group of people as their friends and refer to the rest as acquaintances. So if you are invited into a German’s home, it’s a big deal. Make sure not to discuss work matters, expect a nice dinner and be prepared to sit and spend lots of time together.

Christian Höferle opened Höferle consulting in 2009 in response to the influx of international employees and employers moving into the area. Höferle helps his clients avoid the pitfalls that come with moving into a new country with a different culture and mindset. For more information about Höferle and what he does, call 423.284.5013 or email willkommen@hoeferle.com.