Question
“Why is there no sense of urgency in Germany?”
Answer
„Urgent“
MerriamWebster defines urgent as: calling for immediate attention, pressing. Among its synonyms are: burning, compelling, critical, dire, imperative, acute, immediate, crucial. Among its antonyms are: incidental, low-pressure, minor, negligible, trivial, unimportant, non-threatening, safe, stable.
When it comes to urgency, Americans and Germans can diverge in two fundamental ways:
What is urgent?
A situation which Americans might interpret as requiring urgent action might very well be one in which Germans do not see the urgency. This difference could be based on a few, several or many factors, each of which need then to be clarified between the two parties. A common, but not simple, situation is when a customer demands rapid reaction. Speed.
Because Americans and Germans differ in how they understand what makes for an optimal relationship between two business partners – customer and supplier – an American is far more likely to view a customer request as urgent, especially when that customer communicates their urgency, than a German would view that request.
How fast is responsive?
If Germans and Americans agree, at least to a working degree, that a situation requires urgent action, there are nonetheless differences in how both parties define what is fast, slow or just the right reaction time. We know that the two cultures define differently short- , medium- and long-term. This difference is equally at play when it comes to responding to a matter, problem, request, situation.
In other words, agreement on the urgency of the matter does not guarantee the same reaction times. For Americans it could be within three days (including weekends and holidays), whereas for their German colleagues it could be ten days (not including weekends and holidays).
Haste
Another way to look at this is to contrast what in each culture is considered to be haste or hasty action. MerriamWebster define haste as: rapidity of motion, swiftness, rash or headlong action, undue eagerness to act. Among its synonyms are: fastness, fleetness, speed, hurry, quickness, rapidity, rapidness, speediness. Among its antonyms are: slowness, sluggishness.
The Germans are no fans of haste. In fact, hasty action is in their culture often a sign of ill-preparedness, poor planning, acting before thinking. Germans are methodical, careful, thoughtful. They prefer to get whatever they do right the first time. Any kind of rework, and change in direction, they calculate into their original reaction time.
„To turn on a dime“ ― an American figure of speech meaning the ability to change directions quickly, deftly and whenever necessary ― is a quality Germans respect. However, for them it is often a strength necessary primarily because a suboptimal decision has been made.
Shared Logic
It is important to keep in mind that within a well-functioning society ― like the German and the American ― there is a shared logic in those areas which are fundamental to their respective stability, success and future.
A culture‘s, therefore business culture‘s, understanding of urgency is shared by all who interact with each other. Whether a given situation is urgent or not, and if so, to what degree, is defined by a common cultural understanding of what is important (urgent). And that understanding is shared by people on both sides of the transaction: colleague to colleague, team lead to team members, customer and supplier.
In other words, what in the American business context is considered urgent, or very urgent, or extremely urgent, or absolutely asap, might be considered in the German to be less so, or even not at all. As long as the two transactional parties are in synch with eachother, the urgency will be handled properly.
And vice versa. Now, Americans can often be perceived as not responding to the urgency of a situation, „urgency“ in the sense of the problem, which if not addressed, could lead to constant and long-term negative effects. Quality – whether it be in a physical product (craftsmanship) or in work results (competence) – is so critical to Germans, that almost anything related to it is urgent, permanently urgent, day-in and day-out.
Who‘s faster?
Stated simply, but accurately, Americans break down complexity into into its component parts in order to focus on what is essential. This allows for focus, rapid reaction, and calculated risk taking. Sharply delineated decisions – isolate and keep narrow in scope – can be made quickly, and revised just as quickly, depending on immediate outcomes as well as on external factors over which one may have little to no influence. Americans consider flexibility to be one of the most critical success factors of any human endeavor.
In contrast, Germans link decisions together. They then analyse the decision – in reality several decisions – carefully, methodically, taking into consideration many, if not all, influencing factors. Germans think through, then act.
When they do then decide, they remain firm, are not easily pushed off their path, consider external factors, but stay on course. For some they maintain their composure, for others they don‘t recognize when (or are too stubborn) to change course.
Who handles urgent matters more effectively?
Certainly each would claim that they do. And each side has valid arguments. But, in many cases they are comparing apples with oranges, or perhaps more accurately, apples with pears. Americans isolate, analyze pragmatically, move fast, react just as fast, change course as often as is necessary in order „to get the job done.“
Germans connect, analyze deeply and stringently, more slowly, but when they do, they do so on many fronts at the same time. They stick to their course or action, and change only if convincing arguments can be made that their original decision making was flawed.
From the American perspective, the Germans can be terribly slow, plodding, unresponsive, almost incapable (or unwilling, or both) of responding with a sense of urgency. From the German perspective, Americans are often cowboys, „shooting first, then asking questions“, or „going through the wall with their heads“, hasty, impatient, making mistakes left and right and calling it euphemistically „turning on a dime.“