German negotiations typically occur within frameworks established through prior processes—laws, regulations, professional standards, industry practices, organizational procedures. Individual negotiations operate within these constraints rather than reinventing everything from first principles. Expect Germans to invoke these frameworks as authoritative. “The regulation requires…” or “Standard practice is…” represent serious constraints, not negotiating tactics.
Learn what frameworks apply to your negotiation and work within them. If you need to do something the frameworks do not allow, you may need to address the framework itself through appropriate channels rather than trying to negotiate around it individually. Respecting these structures shows you understand how German professional life operates.
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