Germany – Page 32 – understand-culture

Gesellschaftsvertrag

The German cultural Gesellschaftsvertrag reflects a deep-rooted social contract philosophy that traces back to the Middle Ages. Historically, German nobility saw themselves as responsible caretakers of their people. In exchange for loyalty, work, and taxes, they provided security and social stability. This legacy shaped German business ethics, emphasizing that companies are not purely profit-driven entities focused solely on shareholder value.

In contemporary German business culture the Gesellschaftsvertrag or social contract signifies that the primary responsibility of companies is first to their employees—to keep them employed and protected. The next priority is serving and contributing to the wider society, followed closely by fulfilling duties to customers and suppliers. Only after these responsibilities are met do shareholders’ interests come into priority. This hierarchy illustrates an ethos where social responsibility and care for people underpin business decisions.

This cultural framework aligns with German business values such as social responsibility, corruption-free operations, formal structures, clear roles, long-term relationships, and sustainability. German companies often adopt a collaborative approach with strong legal and ethical boundaries. Corporate social responsibility is taken seriously, encouraged by both internal company practices and external regulations.

The German Gesellschaftsvertrag embodies a traditional and modern blend of legal structure and ethical social obligations—a social contract where business success is tied fundamentally to the well-being of employees, society, and sustainable partnerships, not just shareholder profits. This perspective is a distinctive and influential part of Germany’s corporate culture and legal business environment.

Why Germans Don’t Say ‘Sorry’ Every Five Minutes

In this video, I’ll explain why Germans don’t apologize for every little thing and how their version of “sorry” (or “Es tut mir leid”) carries real weight. You’ll learn how German communication culture treats apology as sincerity, not social reflex. By the end, you’ll see why fewer apologies can actually make your words stronger.

Comments:

HEY! Sorry, but this is a direct attack on Canada. 🙂

Yes, in Germany, people actually mean what they say, most of the time.

Meanwhile in Germany „sorry“ is often used when we apologize just a tiny little bit for only very small actions which are not supposed to be really insulting to anybody. When we say „Entschuldigung“ it‘s often an expression with a really strong meaning which implies that I hurt someone by my action. But we also use it to adress at other people to get their attention, f.e. if we want to call the waitor in a restaurant, or if we want to pass through a croud of people. Even stronger is the sentence „verzeih mir“ which includes that I deeply hurt someone. All these expressions need self reflection and the realization that I did something wrong which I really regret. Therefore it‘s not easily used.

No Fake “How Are You?”

If you’ve ever said “How are you?” in Germany and got a blink, a nod—or a 10-minute life update—you’ve hit a culture switch. In German, “Wie geht’s?” isn’t small talk—it’s a real check-in. Today you’ll learn why Germans skip small talk, what they say instead (Moin, Na?, Alles klar?), and exactly when to use Wie geht’s? so you build trust, not awkwardness.

Comments:

Why would you ask a question if you don’t expect an answer?

I just ran this by my German girlfriend and she said “Oh my God, YES!” She said that the “How’s it going?” Or “You alright?” greeting in the UK was really difficult for her to begin with. It’s like “You’re gonna ask me that and then not wait for the answer?”

After my exchange year in the US, back in Germany, I stumbled over a report the organisation sent my parents. There was one phrase that stood out and went along the lines of “He speaks his mind and could improve on the tact.” My parents never mentioned it to me…

“What are you thinking about?”

A comment on YouTube: “They are obviously Deep in Thought.”

“Dienst ist Dienst”

Dienst ist Dienst und Schnaps ist Schnaps – literally: Work is work. Schnaps is schnaps (alcoholic beverage) – is a very well-known German figure of speech underlining the strict separation between work and play. A similar figures of speech conveys German thinking: Erst die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen – first work, then enjoyment.

Civil Service German

Beamtendeutsch – the German of civil servants – prefers nouns instead of verbs, in the hope of coming across as sophisticated. It is not only typical in documents and correspondence with and between German government agencies at local, state and national levels – Beamtendeutsch has also found its way into large German companies. Its compact form, and supposed clarity, aim to be objective and authoritative. Verbs are turned into nouns. To notify becomes a notification of.

Beamtendeutsch also turns the active form into the passive, making it difficult for the reader to know who the subject is. It then creates Substantivketten, literally noun-chains: Application for Registration of Residence for Foreign Students in the County. The German language in general favors individual words made up of several nouns:

Leistungsnachweiserbringungspflicht or Leistung (benefit, performance) – Nachweis (certificate, confirmation) – Erbringung (producing, provision) – Pflicht (duty, responsibility), which in English would read: „Students must show proof of course completion.“

Context Irrelevant

Germans strive to separate substance from person. They can argue vehemently and still respect each other, even remain close friends. This allows them to pay less attention to the specific context of the interaction.

It is relatively unimportant whether they are communicating with their neighbor in front of their house, an acquaintance in the streetcar, a relative on the phone or a colleague at their workplace. A discussion about a topic of substance has little to do with the person individually.

The ability to separate substance from person is in the German business context among the fundamental abilities expected not only of employees, but especially of those who lead them – management. The self-understanding of the German citizen includes – consciously or unconsciously – the obligation to argue a point, to address a problem, to state an opinion objectively, critically, fairly.

Books on Small Talk

On Amazon.com, there are 125,927 search results for books involving small talk. On BarnesandNoble.com, thee are 328 books found under small talk. Titles include The Fine Art of Small Talk: How to Start a Conversation, Keep it Going, Build Networking Skills—and Leave a Positive Impression by Debra Fine and Turn Small Talk into Big Deals: Using 4 Key Conversation Styles to Customize Your Networking Approach, Build Relationships, and Win More Clients by Don Gabor.

The Dragon Slayer

At the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall Wolf Bierman, a famous songwriter and harsh critic of the former East German regine, was invited to speak to the German Bundestag.

Instead of singing, Biermann addressed a few words towards Bundestags President Norbert Lammert: “Mr. Lammert, I am glad that you lured me here. And as I know you to have a sarcastic sense of humor, I already have some idea that you were hoping that I would take a few jabs at Die Linken (the far-left political party made up of primarily former East German communists), but this I cannot deliver. I my career as a dragon slayer is over.”

Lammert: “I too can help you, Mr. Biermann, with a tip about our house rules. As soon as you run for office in the German Bundestag and are elected, then you may speak here. Today you were invited to sing.“

Biermann: “Yes, but of course I did not accept keeping my mouth shut in former East Germany, and I certainly will not do so here. A dragon slayer cannot bravely take down the remaining hoard of dragons in one fell swoop. You have been beaten. [light applause] And for me it is punishment enough that you must sit here. […] And so you are all destined to sit here and tolerate this, and I will indulge you. […] I know that those who sit here are the pathetic remnants of that which has fortunately been conquered, and I am happy to be able to sing a song here “The Encouragement“. […] I altered you with those songs while you were all still in power.“

A time for celebration. The opportunity to celebrate the reunification of Germany. A few nice words. Words of reconciliation, perhaps. But they missed their mark. Even in such a moment it continued to be important to Biermann to remain critical and to criticize; to not let himself be ‘lulled into’. Showing bravery in the face of controversy.

Controversial !

Germans seek out lively discussions. And lively are those involving clear differences of opinion. And the more complex and relevant the topic, all the more interesting the conversation.

Except for topics which are plainly too personal and sensitive, Germans are willing to address almost any controversial topic. They enjoy the intellectual give and take. Controversial discussions are a form of mental chess.

At a deeper level Germans want to demonstrate that they are well informed, are proud of their high level of education, want to show a broad world view, that they are anything but provincial. Most importantly, Germans want people to know that they think independently, critically, do not simply agree with the masses.