My First Month at Schmidt & Sohn: Motivation in German

Okay, deep breaths. It’s been just over a month since I arrived in Munich, officially working as a junior marketing assistant at Schmidt & Sohn – a small furniture manufacturer. Honestly, the first few weeks were a chaotic blur of paperwork, learning the ropes, and desperately trying to understand everyone’s accents. But one thing that’s become really clear is that understanding motivation in the workplace here is… different. It’s not just about hitting targets; it’s about something deeper, and I’m trying to figure out how to navigate it.

The Initial Conversations – “Wie geht’s?” and the Pressure

My first few days, everyone was incredibly polite, asking “Wie geht’s?” (How’s it going?) constantly. It felt a little impersonal at first, but then I realised it’s genuinely used as a small check-in. During one meeting, Herr Schmidt, the owner, was talking about the new campaign for the “Brotzeit” (picnic blanket) line. He said, “Wir müssen jetzt die Verkaufszahlen steigern!” (We need to increase sales figures now!). It felt… intense. I wanted to jump in with, “But what’s motivating us to do that?” but I just mumbled something about the importance of the target.

I quickly learned that pushing the idea of ‘motivation’ directly wasn’t really a thing. Instead, the focus is on delivering results. My colleague, Lena, noticed I was looking a little lost. She said, “Keine Sorge” (Don’t worry), and explained, “Hier geht es darum, Arbeit zu erledigen und Verantwortung zu zeigen.” (Here it’s about getting work done and showing responsibility.)

“Das ist wichtig” – The Subtle Push

The phrase “Das ist wichtig” (That is important) gets used a lot. It’s not necessarily negative, but it can feel like a gentle, constant pressure. I was struggling with a social media report, and my supervisor, Michael, said, “Das ist wichtig, dass du das bis Freitag fertig hast.” (It’s important that you finish this report by Friday.) I felt a bit stressed, like I was being judged on the outcome, not the process. Later, Lena explained, “Es ist ein bisschen traditionell. Sie wollen sehen, dass Sie Ihre Arbeit ernst nehmen.” (It’s a bit traditional. They want to see that you take your work seriously). I realised I needed to show I was dedicated, not just tell them.

Small Talk and “Teamwork” – Building Rapport

Something that’s surprisingly valuable is small talk. Lunchtime is always filled with conversations about football (Bayern München is huge here!), the weather, and of course, “Teamwork” (Teamarbeit). I heard a lot of “Lasst uns zusammenarbeiten!” (Let’s work together!). It felt less like a command and more like a genuine invitation to be part of the team. I even started joining in on the conversations about Fußball, a little bit of “So, wie war das Spiel gestern?” (So, how was the game yesterday?) goes a long way.

Asking for Feedback – A Different Approach

Asking for feedback was a challenge. In my previous job, I would have directly asked, “Can you give me feedback on my work?” Here, it’s much more indirect. I was nervous about a presentation I’d prepared, and I said to Michael, “Ich habe versucht, es so gut wie möglich zu machen.” (I tried to do my best). He responded with, “Ja, das ist gut. Aber vielleicht könntest du beim Blickpunkt mehr Fokus legen” (Yes, that’s good. But maybe you could focus more on the key point). It felt more like a suggestion than a critique, and I appreciated the gentle guidance.

My Takeaway So Far

I’m starting to understand that motivation in a German workplace isn’t about grand speeches or feeling “inspired.” It’s about demonstrable results, taking responsibility, being a reliable team member, and showing that you “sorgen” (care) about your work. It’s about earning respect through action rather than declaring enthusiasm.

Right now, I’m focusing on consistently delivering on my tasks, being open to feedback, and trying to become a valued part of the “Team.” And, honestly, learning a few more phrases like “Bitte” (Please) and “Danke” (Thank you) – those seem to make a big difference. I still have a long way to go, but I’m feeling more confident every day. Ich glaube, ich kann das schaffen! (I believe I can do it!)