Intercultural competence Austria
Austria? Why Austria?
This is probably the first question that comes to mind when you hear that intercultural training in Austria can be of great benefit. But isn’t Austria the country where many people spend their vacations? That is true. But employees who are sent to Austria are not supposed to ski down the mountains, they are supposed to go about their business and do their job. It would be similarly bold to claim to know Spain, for example, because you regularly go on vacation to Mallorca. But while the differences between Spain and Germany are much more obvious, the differences between Austria and Germany are more subtle. Nevertheless, they do exist and there are many examples of German expatriates who have “broken enough china” to have become unacceptable.
But the Austrians speak our language
That’s true – in principle. There are also differences, official differences, which are not due to the dialect. The best known is certainly Jänner, or January in High German. As a sovereign country, Austria has developed its own form of German and it is not uncommon for a naïve German to sit in front of the menu in a café and try to decipher what a “Einspänner”, “Verlängertem” or a “Großer Brauner” is, and whether he should order whipped cream to go with it. This is not entirely unimportant, as coffee culture plays a major role in the culinary world of the Austrians. This may seem like a minor detail, as there are also many dialects in Germany. However, it makes it clear that Austria has its own mentality and culture, which is more different from the German one than it seems.
Away from the ski slopes – different customs prevail in conference rooms
If you’re drinking a Jagatee in the hut with Toni on the Arlberg, you’re sure to have a great time. However, this is of little help if you have to do a responsible job in the office or conduct negotiations in a conference room. This is where the Austrians have developed their own style. The direct German style is usually not very well received here. People communicate more indirectly and attach much more importance to a good atmosphere than is usually the case in Germany. It is not without reason that Germans are often perceived as arrogant and undiplomatic, which is not exactly conducive to a good business relationship. The “not criticized is praised enough” management style often practiced in Germany also causes irritation.
The friendly neighbors
The ambivalent relationship between Austrians and Germans should not be underestimated either. It is part of the Austrian mentality to distance oneself from “big brother”, and the emotions range from openly expressed rejection to admiration. It is precisely here that Austrians have to do a great deal, as the common language naturally also unites them and makes it more difficult to communicate their own identity, as this fact produces assumed similarities. The Germans have a problem-free relationship here, they do not have to differentiate themselves from the Austrians. In fact, the south-eastern neighbor is often perceived as the “seventeenth federal state”, which in turn is met with rejection by those affected.
Subtle differences make things easy and difficult at the same time
Especially if you come from southern Germany, Austrians will not seem completely foreign to you. However, the differences are subtle, which makes intercultural relations more difficult, as it is precisely this fact that tempts people to disregard or underestimate important characteristics. Nevertheless, these differences do exist and one should be aware of them in order to be able to deal with them properly. This has a particular impact on management style. One example of this was found during intercultural preparation for a managing director from Bavaria who was sent to Vienna. Despite the proximity and proximity between Austria and his home country, a very fruitful and interesting discussion about leadership ensued, which made us aware of many aspects and shed new light on others. Northern Germans in particular face a much greater hurdle here, as the mentality of the North German Plain differs even more from that of Austria than that of Bavaria. Certainly no one will deny that there are significant differences between Hamburgers and Munich residents. Against this background, a commitment in Austria, a neighboring country that is only superficially familiar, should not be underestimated.
Find out more here:
Intercultural Training Austria
