This document provides information about working with Germans. It discusses the following key points: - The trainer, Gayatri Tribhuvan, has over 10 years of experience in training and speaks 11 languages including German. - Germans are very task-oriented, dislike uncertainty and risks, and are very direct in their communication style. - Time is seen as more valuable than money in Germany. Adhering to deadlines and being aware of time is important when working with Germans. - Body language and personal space conventions differ between cultures. Germans tend to stand closer during conversations than some other cultures. - Germans communicate in a direct, truthful, and fact-based manner. Humor and ambiguity

1. Working with Germans
Gayatri Tribhuvan
Bizmentors Pvt Ltd

2. About the Trainer
• Gayatri Tribhuvan- Executive Director of
Bizmentors Pvt Ltd. (www.bizmentors.net)
• Polyglot- speaks 11 languages including
German, French and Spanish
• 10 years of corporate experience and
training experience, international experience
of Germany and UK
• Handles complete training curriculum,
management and delivery
• Completely up to date with the latest
happenings in the linguistics and social skills
area
• Runs own foreign language institute in
Bangalore (www.fluenc.net)

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We’ll Learn Through……
Sharing Of Experiences
Exercises
Audio Visuals
We’ll Have Fun……
Program Didactics

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5. Agenda
• Understanding German people
• Concept of Time
• Body language and bubbles
• Communication Style
• Practicing being assertive
• German Management and Leadership
• German Meetings
• Presenting to a German
• Written and spoken Communication with Germans
• Building Rapport with Germans
• Do’s and Don’t’s
• Top tips
• Role-plays & Case studies

6. Understanding German People

7. Task Oriented

8. Dislike Uncertainty and Risks

10. Very Direct

11. Concept of time
How most see it How Germans see it
Therefore Time is more valuable than money!

12. Implications @ Work
• Adhere to deadlines
• If not possible, say No
• Be aware of time
• Prepare with feasible buffer
• In case of unforeseen circumstances, intimate in
advance
• Never assume- Always ask questions

13. Body Language and Bubbles

14. German Communication Style
• Truth and Directness is given more importance
than diplomacy
• Can be misinterpreted by different cultures
• Seen as a sign of respect
• Gives solution to a problem
• Clarity in a fact can be seen as arrogance
• No room for vagueness
• Role of Humour

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Styles of Communication
I am OK I am not OK
You are
OK
Assertive
Win-Win
Passive
Lose-Win
You are
not OK
Aggressive
Win-Lose
Passive Aggressive
Lose-Lose
Communication styles can be categorized
based on the basic nature of the
communicator as follows -

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Assertive Communication:
 It is an open, direct and appropriately expressive.
 It allows you to express your opinions and feelings honestly
and to exercise personal rights without denying the rights of
others.
 Personal responsibility with awareness of rights and
responsibilities
 Confidence
 Positive
 Self respect and respect others
Communication Styles – I

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Passive Communication:
 It is a tendency to suppress your feelings and opinions in an
effort to please or to avoid conflict. Body language may imply
lack of confidence, i.e. avoidance of eye contact, mumbling.
 Failing to stand up to rights
 Expressing needs, opinions, feelings in an apologetic manner
 Failing to express honestly needs, opinions, feelings.
Communication Styles – II

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Aggressive Communication:
 It involves an attempt to get what you want through verbal or
physical force.
 This often results in violating the rights of others and leaves
others feeling defensive, hurt and intimidated
 Expression of own needs, opinions in inappropriate ways
Communication Styles – III

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Passive-Aggressive Communication:
 It is an attempt to express your feelings and needs indirectly
through body language, actions (i.e. silent treatment), tone of
voice (i.e. sarcasm) or through a third party.
Communication Styles – IV

20. Practicing Assertiveness
Clips

21. German Management Style
• Should be technically strong
• Non-German managers managing German
team
• Don’t disagree openly, but are not yes men
• German managers expect ownership and
don’t interfere
• Instructions should be clear
• Not relationship based, hence can seem cold

22. German Leadership
What does Autocratic
mean?
German leadership is not
100% autocratic-
consensus is important
However, hierarchy
cannot be surpassed- so
bureaucracy exists

23. German Meetings
• Lot of pre-planning
• Specialists more than generalists
• Seems fixed and arrogant
• Mostly led by technical specialists
• Not necessary to give an opinion unless related
• Can seem like a heated debate
• Strong debates are promoted to get right answers
• Moderators- Time is important

24. S.No Topic Responsible Start End Duration Comments
Typical Agenda

25. Presenting to a German

26. Presenting to a German
• Strong support of proof and technical data
• Excellent preparation
• Clear Structure
• Go slow while speaking
• Should be idea as well as fact based
• Clear message in the conclusion
• Prezi
• Handouts

30. Writing Emails to Germans
• Use simple English and Short sentences
• Bullet points are preferred to paragraphs
• Structure
• Final message , expectations, to-do’s should
be clear

31. E-mail Structure
Elevator Summary
Conclusion
Body
Gist of the email. Usually
not more than 2 lines.
Main chunk of the email.
In bullet points only
Should contain a solution, next
step or expectation. A line of
in bullet points if lengthy
Eg: This email is with respect
to release 13.1
Eg:We are having the
following issues:
1….
2….
It will help us to solve the
above problems if:
1…
2….

32. Verbal Communication with Germans
• Slow
• Think, assimilate and then talk. Pauses are
good
• Erect posture
• Use simple English
• Short sentences
• Clear- Yes and No

33. Building Rapport
• Generally reserved
• Not much into ‘small-talking’
• Impersonal topics preferred
• Weather, Sports, Culture, Travel, Less
controversial topics
• No discussions on War
• German Language

34. Capture Do’s and Don’ts !

35. Top Tips

36. Role-plays

37. Topic 1
• There is a new product roll out, but the
number of resources are very less. You have to
convince your German counterpart to see this
problem and provide extra resources. The
German counterpart is unwilling, as they want
to save costs. Come up with convincing
techniques

38. Topic 2
• You are the requirements team and you are
meeting your German counterparts to collect
the requirements. Prepare a roleplay

39. Topic 3
• You will be acquiring a project from the
German counterpart, which they are not
happy about. How will you handle the
takeover and KT?

40. Topic 4
• You have delivered a rollout, and mistakes are
found in the delivery. How will you explain
these mistakes to your German counterpart?

41. Topic 5
• You need to sell your roll-out solutions to a
new German customer, how will you handle
the conversation?

42. Topic 6
• There is an unforeseen delay in the delivery
which your German counterpart did not
expect , and neither did you. How will you
explain this to the German counterpart?

43. Topic 7
• You have to present the final status report to
German Management. How will you present
the same?