Austria

Erica Gingerich: The national anthem of Austria describes its unique geography. “Land of mountains, land on the river; land of fields, land of spires.” Austrians and Germans may be neighbours across the Alps, but each country has its own business culture. So, what are some of the differences? Intercultural communication expert Robert Gibson is here with a guest, to tell us more about working with Austrians.

Robert Gibson: This is Robert Gibson. Welcome to our Intercultural Communication section. I'm very pleased to have with me today Peter Strnad. He comes from Austria and has lived and worked in Germany for the past 40 years. Peter, Austrian businesses seem to be very successful in central and eastern Europe. What are the reasons for this?

Peter Strnad: In many cases, Austrians were simply faster, for instance in the sector of banks, of gas and oil. Why? Maybe because of old connections, maybe because of language knowledge, maybe also because of affinities, of understanding for each other. Of course a number of bigger international companies handed their eastern European or south-eastern European sales and marketing activities over to their Vienna subsidiary. And to the benefit of both international and Austrian companies this way worked hand in hand, and had a better start. And there is a certain affinity in mentality.

Gibson: What are the main differences in business and everyday life between Austria and Germany?

Strnad: The importance of punctuality is one point — the importance of punctuality itself is not so important in Austria. In my Austrian family I've become the most punctual one to their great surprise! I also felt that tidiness and order are sort of different. I entered Germany not as a businessman, but as a hitchhiker. And I remember there was no bundle of grass between the pavement and the buildings, between the pavementand the fences, whereas in Austrian villages, or cities, this was normal.

Gibson: How about the differences in communication style?

Strnad: When I moved from Vienna to Munich and I shared my office room with a guy from Hamburg, he wouldn't give any feedback if I talked to him, or if I stated something to him. Then he came back from a seminar one day and told me that the teachers told him to give more feedback. And I asked him “what is that?”— “Well, that's what you are doing all the time. You're always giving answers when I talk to you!” And I found out that working in Bavaria, if you state something to a Bavarian and he stay quiet and not show any reaction, he would agree.

Gibson: Well, thank you very much for talking to us today.

Strnad: Thank you. It was a pleasure.

Erica: For more tips and information on intercultural matters, check out Robert Gibson's intercultural BlogClick here. We hope you’ve enjoyed our podcast. Join us again next Tuesday.