Being reliable—consistently honoring your commitments—is fundamental to how Germans assess character. The word Zuverlässigkeit (reliability, dependability) is high praise. Its opposite is serious criticism. Reliable people are trusted with responsibilities, relationships, and opportunities.
Unreliable people damage their standing and find doors closing. This means you should not commit to things lightly, because commitment creates obligation to perform. But once you commit, follow through. Your track record of keeping your word defines how you are perceived.
When working with Germans, build reliability through consistent performance on whatever you agree to. Start with smaller commitments you can definitely fulfill before taking on larger ones. Demonstrate through action that your word means something.
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