I heard a story yesterday that sums it up very nicely!
Two German parents were working at the satellite concession stand (upper field near my school). A student walked up and asked "Do you have hot dogs?"
They replied, "No."
The student started to walk away. However, an American parent was standing nearby and heard the interchange. She added, "But they have hot dogs at the main concession stand by the gym."
"Great, thanks!" and the student walked toward his desired hot dog.
The two German parents spoke to each other and laughed. They told the American parent (who happens to be a colleague of mine), "That is so typical American. You answered his need but we answered his question."
This illustrates perfectly why many Americans (including me) experience frustration here in Deutschland. Neither approach is right or wrong - just very different!
Lesson: You have to ask the right questions to get the answers you want/need!!!
5 comments:
I don't get it. So, the kid asked for a hot dog and the Germans didn't have any? Or they had some but call them something different?
They didn't have hot dogs at that stand - they were at the other location (same school, other field). BUT, the student didn't ask if there were hot dogs in another location - only if the ladies had hot dogs. So, they answered "no" and didn't offer the information that he could buy one at the other field.
Hey! I thought we already determined that the difference between Germans and Americans is the ability to stand placidly in line. Have the goal posts been moved???
:) I believe so!!
Cary, esta é a diferença entre eficiência e eficácia!
O eficiente faz apenas o solicitado, o eficaz faz o necessário.
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