Punctuality as a cultural norm in Germany
I’m German. Born and raised in Germany in the 1970s. Some core principles Germans my generation and older were all taught are to be on time and to stick to what you promise or commit to. And, we are told to do one thing at a time (“Eine Sache nach der anderen!”) and “alles zu seiner Zeit” (all in good time).
For us, it is “normal” to be on time.
Though things may have changed somewhat over time, and younger generations may have been raised differently, punctuality is still considered very important in Germany.
People who tend to be late are considered “abnormal” and, based on common understanding, should be admonished or avoided. Apologies for the harsh terms – they simply underscore the seriousness of the issue!
Having understood that, it might not come as a surprise to you that Germany ranks as one of the top countries worldwide when it comes to the stress we put on punctuality (“Pünktlichkeit”).
Punctuality in German business settings
In business, arriving even a few minutes late (without a very good excuse) will create a bad impression. If you think a “Sorry, I was held up at another meeting!” is a very good excuse, forget it!
Also, telling me that when coming from the airport during rush hour, it had unfortunately taken you more than the anticipated 10 minutes to arrive in the city center won’t make things better.
Normally, in business, I would expect you to arrive at my office some five to 10 minutes before the fixed timing (and ask my assistant to let you wait until the clock strikes whatever hour we have agreed upon).
On the other hand, at a trade show, while people would expect you to show up at 10:00 a.m. sharp, for example, a delay of five minutes would usually not be frowned upon. However, if you are running more than five minutes late, better give your appointment a call and inform him or her of where you are and confirm that you are on your way. Maybe they will offer to reschedule or try to meet you halfway.
Even a two-minute delay can cause stress
“After coming back from a long business trip to India, where things might not go as you want or not always as planned,” a German gentleman recently told me, “I was waiting for a train in Germany.
It was fascinating to see how a delay of two or three minutes made everyone completely nervous, or even anxious, that they might run late for something.” He continued saying, “the reactions were also very interesting, as many became angry within these few minutes and started complaining. First world problems, I’d say.”
What else can go wrong?
Being late is only one aspect; other seemingly small behaviors can also undermine your credibility in the German market. I have outlined a few of them here.
Of course, it works both ways. Certain everyday habits that Germans take for granted can appear surprising or even irritating to others – as outlined in Annoying Habits Most Germans Would Find Normal.