This is the first in a series of six posts in which I'll share with you some of the key insights I have gained about Germany and the Germans after many years of living and working here. This first post focuses on the concept of order or "Ordnung" as the Germans call it and why it is so important.
I still remember, just over 23 years ago now, the excitement I felt as I prepared for my first Expatriate Assignment. I had grown up in Dublin and moved to London in my early 20s without a hitch, so to be honest, I didn’t really overthink the fact that I was about to move to yet another new country with a very different culture and what that might mean. I was off to Stuttgart in Germany, to take up an exciting and challenging new role in global marketing. What was there not to like? My focus was on what a great opportunity this was going to be for my career development and besides, I thought to myself, if I don’t really like it, it was only going to be for a few years anyway and then I’d be back home again, right?
Well not quite…it’s over twenty years later now, and I am still in Germany! The assignment did work out, and indeed went beyond the maximum 5-year limit. I loved my job and the people I worked with and I suppose I became settled. Looking back however, I now wish I had educated myself a bit more about the culture and learnt more of the language before plunging myself and my family into a completely new world. If I had known then what I know now, things would definitely have been easier from the start!
Let me first put my musings into perspective by saying that Germany is a melting pot, so a significant proportion of today’s population has a migratory background. Among its population of almost 84 Million, you will find significant numbers of newly arrived East Europeans, people from the Middle East as well as millions with South, South-East European or Turkish backgrounds. German culture, particularly in the cities, is constantly evolving as the cultures of its immigrants slowly but surely influence how things are done and what values are important. Globalisation, low cost international travel, the impact of modern communication technology and social media have influenced and continue to influence social values and behaviours in Germany. Many young Germans today are highly proficient in English, are cosmopolitan in outlook and have also travelled or even studied abroad.
Finally, before detailing some of the defining elements of German social behaviour and values, as I see and experience them in 2020, it’s important to remind ourselves that Germany is also a country of individuals and just like everywhere else, you’ll meet all sorts of people; some kinder, more open and friendlier than others! So, onto the first aspect I’d like to cover…
"Ordnung" - Rules, Regulations & The Concept of Order
No matter where you go in the world, you’ll be confronted by rules and regulations and in this respect, Germany is no different. But rules and regulations are especially important to Germans. Apparently, it was the Romans who first introduced the concept of order to the Germanic tribes. The combination of Germanic grit and Roman order proved to be so successful as a military strategy in conquering neighbouring countries, that it has played centre stage in German life and society ever since. Order provides a certain degree of control in an otherwise chaotic world. (Motto: “Control what can be controlled”) and that’s why Germans love and embrace it so much.
There are rules for just about everything in this country and usually there is black/white interpretation which everyone accepts. People arrive on time for meetings or social gatherings (or 10 minutes early actually to be polite), trains and buses run on time. Drivers politely let each other in at road junctions or when lanes converge. There appears to be a plan for everything, and the Germans just seem to have everything under control. As a visitor, you’ll need to bear this in mind and be prepared for some surprises, like for example unless you can prove you have a handicap, you’ll need a licence to play on a golf course. Washing your car on the driveway or street is also a complete no-no at any time. On Sundays, public holidays and between certain times any other day, you can forget making any loud noise such as mowing the lawn or drilling holes for a DIY project, and shopping hours are also restricted.
But there are still a few areas of German life where chaos continues to reign. The one that comes most to mind is queuing. The Germans are not very good at it and it’s every man for himself when a bus comes. It is also a free for all at the playground, so don’t encourage your child to wait patiently for their turn, if they don’t learn how to fend for themselves at an early age they’ll be left behind at bus stops in later life!
Conor Riordan
June 2020
Conor Riordan is the Founder & CEO of Riordan Communication Services (RCS). Based in Karlsruhe in Germany, RCS specialises in helping companies expand into new overseas markets. We help them to develop the skills - including the language and inter-cultural awareness skills - that they need to be successful.