[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]Photos: Shutterstock, Vera Kuenzer (3)[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″]Vera Kuenzer lived in South Africa for three years. As of the year 2000, she has been working in Bremen as an intercultural competence trainer and prepares specialists and managers of international companies for longer stays in the Cape. At the same time, she is a research assistant at the Centre for Intercultural Management and Diversity (ZIM) at the Bremen University of Applied Sciences, where she is responsible for the areas of flight and migration.<\/p>\n
From her many years of experience with delegated specialists and business travellers from Germany to South Africa, she is well aware that logistics experts there can find themselves steering their way down communicative one-way streets, and that many an expert in the maritime industry needs support in order to avoid putting their foot in their mouth in their business dealings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn South Africa the saying goes: \u2018Small talk is big talk,\u2019\u201d explains Kuenzer. \u201cThis means that, in contrast to the German business-like communication at work, people in South Africa value personal connections at the business level as well. This means, for example, taking the time to get to know each other and memorising the names of your business partners well.\u201d South Africans also appreciate sincere, positive statements about the country and its people. They are happy to give newcomers good tips to help them find their way. Men in particular can score points with well-informed commentary on sporting events, because South Africa is a sports-loving nation. On the other hand, it would be less fruitful to prematurely and only out of curiosity talk about apartheid. Kuenzer explains that \u201cIn doing so, some people may easily feel offended if a relationship of trust has not yet developed.\u201d<\/p>\n
People with a sense of humour can also earn bonus points when it comes to business talk. Especially if able to demonstrate this in speeches, which the South Africans love. \u201cThe same applies here: Technical and business content is only half as well received as material that creates a positive atmosphere. But please remain authentic and show tact and sensitivity,\u201d the trainer adds. The ice becomes thin if you question the work processes there or want to change them too quickly. \u201cThe direct German way is not always the best method here either. Especially because the people on site have already had their thoughts on the matter as well,\u201d explains Kuenzer. If, however, after a period of getting to know each other, one should come to the conclusion that innovations are indispensable after all, it would be helpful to discuss the matter as \u201cwe\u201d and not as \u201cI\u201d \u2013 true to the motto \u201cWe can achieve something together\u201d. It is also good to know that criticism is not expressed as openly as it is here in Germany. If you take all this to heart, you can look forward to being invited to a joint meal in a restaurant, to a sporting event, or to church. Being invited to someone\u2019s home is not something that can be taken for granted everywhere, as South Africans continue to live in very different environments even 25 years after the end of apartheid.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.5.2″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_9″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Artikel” _builder_version=”4.5.2″ _module_preset=”default”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Vera-Kuenzer.png” title_text=”Vera-Kuenzer” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.9″ header_3_text_color=”#002e5b” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”||40px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n
Vera Kuenzer, trainer for intercultural projects and research associate at the Centre for \u00adIntercultural Management and Diversity (ZIM))[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/Provinz-Ostkap.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”325px||325px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”150px||150px||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.5.0″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c”]<\/p>\n
Two German car manufacturers have production facilities in the Eastern Cape province with its beautiful Wild Coast. The range of services also includes paint inspection, here at Mercedes-Benz South Africa in East London.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/PaintInspect-MercedesBenz.jpg” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”325px||325px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”150px||150px||false|false”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″ custom_padding=”||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.3″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″]<\/p>\n
Kuenzer has excellent advice for business as well as private appointments. It reads as follows: \u201cChange lost time into talking time.\u201d This means that some South Africans like to make their guests wait longer than the standard 15 minutes and that it is then advisable to not sit around annoyed or offended. Instead, this time should be used \u2013 for example to engage in casual conversation about this and that with people in the immediate vicinity. Nonetheless, in business life there are significantly fewer extended waiting times than in private life, where the understanding of time is sometimes completely different and where it is better to pick up the phone and ask rather than to get annoyed,\u201d Kuenzer reports.<\/p>\n
The German proverb \u201cSmall gifts keep the friendship going\u201d is very much reflected in South Africa. \u201cIf your business partners have children, gummy bears and chocolate are usually very popular. But only if the latter has not already melted along the way,\u201d Kuenzer adds with a wink. But even football memorabilia, whether from Bremen or Wolfsburg, are, in her opinion, gladly received as gifts all around the Cape. \u201cHowever, these are only a few tips for a successful stay in South Africa. They are by no means a substitute for more in-depth intercultural preparation, which should definitely be done before a longer professional stay there,\u201d Kuenzer cautions. Kuenzer herself is enthusiastic about South Africa and knows where she can travel safely. \u201cDespite all its problems, South Africa is a wonderful country with a modern constitution and a vibrant civil society \u2013 and is no more dangerous for travellers than many other countries. The best defence, however, will always be to be out and about with South Africans,\u201d she reveals as a last strategic hint. (bre)<\/em>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_blurb title=”More Information” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”||20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_blurb_title=”display: inline-block!important;||background: #002754!important;||padding: 5px 13px 3px 13px!important;||position: relative!important;” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#002754″ header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” header_text_color__hover=”rgba(255,255,255,0.71)”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″]<\/p>\n www.verakuenzer.de<\/a> [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_blurb title=”Logistics Pilot” image=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/LP_Nordamerika-2020-de.jpg” icon_placement=”left” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#002e5b” header_font_size=”21px” body_text_color=”#000000″ body_font_size=”17px” body_line_height=”1.4em” animation=”right” link_option_url=”mailto:marketing@bremenports.de?subject=Logistics%20Pilot%20Printausgabe%20bestellen” link_option_url_new_window=”on” custom_css_blurb_image=”width:100px;||transform: rotate(-10deg);” custom_css_blurb_title=”padding-top:15px;||margin-bottom:-5px;” box_shadow_style_image=”preset1″ box_shadow_color_image=”rgba(0,46,91,0.3)” global_module=”50941″ saved_tabs=”all”]<\/p>\n Die aktuelle Printausgabe \u2013 [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" SOUTHERN AFRICA. The German motto \u201cTalk is silver, but silence is gold\u201d can sometimes be helpful. However, when it comes to business talk in South Africa, those who have the gift of gab and can establish a personal connection to their counterpart through their talent for communication tend to have better chances.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51308,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37,44],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-52171","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behind-the-scenes","category-logistics-world"],"yoast_head":"\n
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