Little Helper Verlags GmbH - 100 Business Etiquette Tips for Germany.

Have any of these thoughts ever gone through your mind when doing business with Germans?

Who offers his hand first when shaking hands?

Should I walk on the left or the right side of my host?

How many pieces of jewelry or other accessories should I wear as a man or a woman?

Yes?

Then the time has come to act.

This book gives you a compact and competent insight into the world of business etiquette in Germany. The business etiquette author and trainer Susanne Helbach-Grosser has put together the most important business etiquette tips for you.

No?

Then you’re perfect - or you’ve never really had to think about such questions.

In both cases it is well worth taking a look at this book. Above all, the humorous illustrations by Tine Beutel make the book entertaining reading on the train or a perfect present. No matter how you decide, we wish you a lot of fun reading or making practical use of the book, simply looking at the fine illustrations or giving it to others as a gift.

Your Little Helper Publishing Company

© 2010 Little Helper Verlags GmbH, Konstanz

www.little-helper-verlag.de

eISBN 978-3-939445-68-5

Susanne Helbach-Grosser

for Germany

1. Edition 2020

© 2010 Little Helper Verlags GmbH, Konstanz

All rights, particularly the rights of reproduction, distribution and translation, are reserved. No part of the work may be reproduced in any form without the written approval of the publishing company or saved, processed, reproduced or distributed by means of electronic systems.

www.little-helper.eu

Layout and Typesetting: Ildikó Erzsébet Buchner

Illustrations: Tine Beutel

Translation: Dr. Jim Fearns

eISBN 978-3-939445-68-5

About this book |100 Business Etiquette Tips Have any of these thoughts ever gone through your mind when doing business with Germans? Who offers his hand first when shaking hands? Should I walk on the left or the right side of my host? How many pieces of jewelry or other accessories should I wear as a man or a woman? Yes? Then the time has come to act. This book gives you a compact and competent insight into the world of business etiquette in Germany. The business etiquette author and trainer Susanne Helbach-Grosser has put together the most important business etiquette tips for you. No? Then you’re perfect - or you’ve never really had to think about such questions. In both cases it is well worth taking a look at this book. Above all, the humorous illustrations by Tine Beutel make the book entertaining reading on the train or a perfect present. No matter how you decide, we wish you a lot of fun reading or making practical use of the book, simply looking at the fine illustrations or giving it to others as a gift. Your Little Helper Publishing Company © 2010 Little Helper Verlags GmbH, Konstanz www.little-helper-verlag.de eISBN 978-3-939445-68-5

1 | Why we need rules 1 | Why we need rules They protect the members of a society. They provide security. Many rules have or had an immediate sense. They are also always signs of belonging to a social group and the expression of an inner attitude, namely regard and respect for other people.

2 | What makes for good manners 2 | What makes for good manners It depends to some extent on the changing times. Today’s recommendations for style and etiquette depend on the situation and are readily understandable. A person who has a command of good manners can go anywhere. But without warmth and an inner attitude they are mere arrogance. Good style has little to do with rules and a lot to do with sensitivity for others and also with self-control and self-possession. Nowadays professional good manners count among the key qualifications for success in professions and careers. Make use of the advantage you have after reading this little book. You will discover that the skills you acquire and the ability to deal politely and stylishly with people will facilitate your professional career. You will easily gain more influence. International dealing and negotiating requires know-how but, even more, it calls for tact and sensitivity. The more a country is shaped by its traditions, the more important it is for a visitor to inform himself on the customs and traditions, which are still alive today. Intercultural differences cannot be pushed aside, so we should learn how to deal with them. In 1788 Friedrich Adolph Freiherr (von) Knigge wrote the moral book of rules “Über den Umgang mit Menschen” (On Human Relations), which has been regarded as a classic work of German intellectual and social history up to the present day. But unfortunately it is also seen mistakenly as a standard work on good manners in all spheres of life. Knigge’s book is a treatment of worldly wisdoms rather than an introduction to proper behaviour. Here are some sentences from his book which are still valid today: “Be interested in other people if you want them to be interested in you” – “Respect yourself if you want others to respect you”.

3 | How to encounter one another

The first impression

Body language

Keeping a social distance

Being well groomed makes a good impression

Body noises

Being well dressed

Don’t save on accessories

4 | How to greet, welcome and introduce people

Empty phrases

5 | Best manners at work

Rules for the workplace

Seating arrangements at meetings

Business cards

Using the telephone

Short Message Service

Electronic Mail

Looking after visitors

Presents

Company parties

The tidy workplace

Say “no” if necessary

Don’t talk about stress

Personal integrity

Reliability

A little ABC for trade fairs

6 | On the road

Car

Planes

Train

7 | How to behave towards each other

Politeness

Knocking on doors

Standing up

Burials

Condolences

Thanking and apologizing

Embarrassing situations

Punctuality

Smoking

Small talk

Handkerchiefs

8 | How to score points with little gestures

At the lift

At the door

At the revolving doors

Other doors

Entering the meeting room

Going up stairs

Right or left?

Dialogue partner

9 | How to eat togehter

Business meals

Invitations

Allergies

Restaurant

Being a guest

Being a host

Seating arrangements

Ordering in the restaurant

Wine and food

Sitting at the table

Waiter!

Aperitifs

Wine