An American manager joins a German-led product team. In the first week, she notices that every conversation circles back to process. How will we structure the workflow? What are the checkpoints? Where is the documentation? … Read more
A German executive prepares a presentation for the American leadership team. The data is thorough. The logic is airtight. The slides are clean, factual, precise. He delivers it with professional restraint, letting the arguments speak … Read more
You asked your German colleague a simple question. Can you help with this? The answer came back fast: No. Not “Let me think about it.” Not “I’ll see what I can do.” Just: No. If … Read more
Question “Our German colleagues seem convinced that there is one best way to do everything, and that their way is it. We Americans believe there are many ways to get the job done. Why this … Read more
When Markus took over as team lead of the twelve-person product development group in the U.S., he made a good first impression. Competent. Calm. Clearly knew the technology. His introductory meeting was efficient—he laid out … Read more
The question comes up constantly. In coaching sessions. In workshops. In hallway conversations after the formal program is over and people feel comfortable enough to say what’s really on their mind. “I’ve been here fourteen … Read more
The RFP landed on a Friday. A major customer wanted a proposal by the following Thursday. Six business days. In Houston, the American team mobilized immediately. Monday morning: a kickoff call. Roles assigned. The sales … Read more
I was asked the question below years ago in a workshop with Americans who work closely with German colleagues. Question “Are Germans able to personally connect in/out of the workplace? Or has the formalistic nature … Read more
The quarterly review meeting was going well until it wasn’t. Thomas, the German engineering lead, had been listening carefully to Sarah’s proposal for restructuring the testing protocol. She’d spent three weeks on it. She’d consulted … Read more
Late September 1988. I fly from Philadelphia to West Berlin, or as the Germans say, Berlin West as opposed to Berlin Ost. Seven years after my flight from JFK to Frankfurt. Seven years. That’s a … Read more