[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Hagen Pleile, Head of BVL Competence Center Austrian Shippers\u2019 Council, (left) and Philipp Muster, Director of Swiss Shippers\u2019 Council (right)[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ 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” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Credits: ZEISCH.CH, ISTOCKPHOTO\/KAMESHKOVA\/SVETA_AHO\/ALEXANDRA KIRICHENKO[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.2″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
LOGISTICS PILOT: Mr Muster, Mr Pleile, let\u2019s start the German way and get straight to the point: What is the biggest faux pas we Germans can make?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: So a touch more charm and smoothness would go a long way?<\/strong> Are there more positive qualities that you attribute to us Germans?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: Speaking of speed, Mr Muster: What about the pace of the language, which certainly differs in comparison to Switzerland. Do we come across as fast speakers to you, and what effect does that have?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: High German has overridden beautiful words like \u2018Paradeiser\u2019 and \u2018Erd\u00e4pfel\u2019 in its predominance. Are Austrians also using words like \u2018Aprikosen\u2019 nowadays?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: Do you not perceive this as a loss of cultural identity?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: Let\u2019s move on. Across our three countries, we approach titles quite differently \u2013 how do you approach them?<\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: What is a definite must-do for us Germans to communicate even better with our neighbours across national borders? <\/strong> LOGISTICS PILOT: I have read that Germans are not always perceived as friendly and polite enough. What are your thoughts? <\/strong> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ prev_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ background_enable_color=”off” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13) 0%|#ffffff 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”rgba(0,58,124,0.13)” background_color_gradient_end=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” top_divider_style=”waves2″ top_divider_height=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gr\u00fcezi, Servus or Hallo? Greetings are not the only thing that differs across the German-speaking world. This is also evident in an interview with Philipp Muster, Director of the Swiss Shippers\u2019 Council, and Hagen Pleile, Head of the BVL Competence Center Austrian Shippers\u2019 Council, who shine a light on German culture.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":61405,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-behind-the-scenes-en"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nHAGEN PLEILE: I can only really mention my personal experiences, of course. But I often find Germans to be very straightforward and less willing to negotiate than us Austrians. The approach seems to be: Until your counterpart has given up in desperation, you haven\u2019t negotiated hard enough. This directness and the less ideological approach are well received by German politicians such as Economics Minister Robert Habeck.
\nPHILIPP MUSTER: I can speak on this too. Directness is something the Swiss are not used to. What\u2019s more, we are very consensus-orientated and used to lengthy voting procedures, which naturally affects our negotiating style. The biggest faux pas for us, however, is when Germans struggle to speak Swiss German. And when we go to a bakery, we don\u2019t say \u201cI would like some bread\u201d like Germans, but rather \u201cmay I buy some bread please?\u201d
\nPLEILE (laughs): We might also ask \u201cwhat would you recommend?\u201d \u2013 opening ourselves up to some pleasant conversation.<\/p>\n
\nPLEILE: Yes, we Austrians feel bad if we cannot please everybody. The people of Bavaria and Baden-W\u00fcrttemberg are closer to us in culture than in the rest of Germany.
\nMUSTER: Being less particular would be good, too. For example, when it comes to cross-state coordination for customs, Germans often nitpick. As service providers, we are very pragmatic and more down-to-earth. Germans should be a little more innovative in this regard.<\/p>\n
\nPLEILE: Definitely the economic strength. And of course we ask ourselves: What makes the Germans so successful? So broadly speaking, directness can be beneficial. In Austria, for example, it is often not clear what the negotiating partner wants. As such, we Austrians can go around in circles. More tenacity and clarity could be beneficial in this instance, even if it can come across negatively. We could adopt this approach to push forward our matters more quickly.<\/p>\n
\nMUSTER: High German is a foreign language for us Swiss Germans, too. The language is spoken more quickly, whereas Berne residents tend to speak slowly. But in a country with four national languages, there is always a need to assimilate, so it\u2019s not something I notice. We are used to hearing it from childhood through radio and television.<\/p>\n
\nPLEILE: Naturally, \u2018international German\u2019 is becoming more and more popular. Where I used to say Paradeiser and Erd\u00e4pfel, I have now also switched to Tomaten and Kartoffeln, respectively. But Aprikosen, never \u2013 they are called Marillen!<\/p>\n
PLEILE: No, I don\u2019t believe that. I look at it like adopting Anglicisms, which is the same concept. We take the terms that are simple and straightforward. Even Kukuruz is hardly used by people, rather Mais. But of course, it\u2019s Topfenkuchen, not K\u00e4sekuchen; Schlagobers, not Schlagsahne \u2013 those things won\u2019t change.<\/p>\n
\nMUSTER: In Switzerland, doctoral studies \u2013 excluding medicine \u2013 are often kept discreet and not printed on business cards. We Swiss do not want to be arrogant. Introducing yourself as \u201cDr so-and-so\u201d is a bit much in my eyes.
\nPLEILE: I grew up with them. After the monarchy, academic titles gained relevance. As a child, I always found it handy that you don\u2019t have to remember names, but can simply refer to someone as Herr Doktor.<\/p>\n
\nMUSTER: I think communication and cooperation is already very good.<\/p>\n
\nPLEILE: It actually comes across to me as though friendliness is only used as a means to get others to agree at times. In Austria, it is important to create an atmosphere of comfortability with one another and a sense of belonging. Too much bluntness and directness are not well received. It is important to palpably convey your value for the other person. For example: I enjoy sitting with you. And not: Time is short, time is money \u2013 chop chop!
\nMUSTER: It comes down to culture, I think. For us, when we feel comfortable, we feel welcome. Although sometimes a little overdone, for example in the financial domain, our culture of service does contrast with that of Germany, a former colonising nation that means business. We are certainly socialised very differently here. Fortunately, we do get along regardless. (cb)<\/em><\/p>\n