Germans separate the personal from the professional. Feedback, both formal and informal, addresses performance only. It is given in a neutral and unemotional way. Feedback, whether positive or negative, is not meant personally.
Praise
Germans give praise in direct connection with factually demonstrated performance. Praise in front of the team is seldom. Official awards are rare, for they could lead to envy and undermine team cohesion.
Criticism
Germans focus on reducing errors. When providing feedback they concentrate on weaknesses, on what is not working. Germans address that directly, openly, in a neutral, matter-of-fact way.
Discretion
Sensitive feedback discussions in Germany are done one-to-one. Germans will, however, openly criticize another colleague in the presence of the team. This is not seen as unfair, but instead a necessary in order to “get the issues on the table.”
Scores
Germans believe that feedback scores are most effective when they are accurate and realistic. When in doubt, Germans are deflationary.
The school grading system is: 1 is sehr gut (very good); 2 is gut (good); 3 is befriedigend (satisfactory); 4 is ausreichend (sufficient); 5 is mangelhaft (insufficient); 6 is ungenügend (failed).
Der Vorleser
Der Vorleser (The Reader, 2008). In this adaptation of Bernhard Schlink’s novel, characters confront moral and legal dilemmas in postwar Germany. Courtroom scenes and personal discussions showcase direct, sometimes confrontational exchanges about justice and responsibility, but the characters strive to keep these discussions focused on the issues, not personal attacks.
mentor-mentee
The Intern (2015). Ben (Robert De Niro), a senior intern, and Jules (Anne Hathaway), a young CEO, develop a close mentor-mentee relationship. Feedback is delivered with empathy and care, and both characters grow personally and professionally through their interactions. The film highlights how feedback is tailored to the individual and is meant to support both performance and personal well-being.
emotionally charged
Jerry Maguire (1996). After a moral crisis, sports agent Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) is fired for his ideals but finds new purpose by building genuine, personal relationships with his clients. Feedback from clients and colleagues is emotionally charged and transformative, showing how professional evaluation in America is inextricably linked to personal values and identity.
Stasi
Das Leben der Anderen (The Lives of Others, 2006): Context: Set in East Germany, this film follows a Stasi officer tasked with surveilling a playwright. Illustration: The Stasi’s internal culture is characterized by unemotional, objective reporting and evaluation. Feedback about performance is delivered in a cold, formal manner, with little regard for personal feelings. The film’s tone and dialogue reflect a clear separation between professional duty and personal emotion.