This was the spontaneous answer of Peter Eyerer, whom I had the pleasure of moderating in September.

When I arrived, many were already there. So I stretched out my hand to him, and introduced myself, daring to be on a first-name basis, and said:

“I’m Susan”

He, with a smile, spontaneously replied back (I had thought it would take him a long time, because he wonders how I allow myself to call him on a first-name basis, after all, he is a Prof. Dr. with several awards”:

“And I’m Peter”

Of course, I had already done some research on Peter and was deeply impressed by his career and his numerous awards in science.

With this attitude, he reached me immediately at that moment. At the same time, shaped by my experiences, I asked myself:

“What, are we really in Germany?”

Again and again I am very positively surprised – like on a day in Hohenfels, at a sustainability congress of Christina Granacher and her Begamo team.

There were great people with the goal of shaping the world hashtag#enkelfähig.

I’m thinking of a course in which I, as a trainer, asked participants to address each other on a first-name basis during the course, and they were allowed to decide afterwards to be on a first-name basis again.

Everyone agreed and the course went smoothly and interactively.

After the course – during dinner – most of them stayed on a first-name basis, grateful for this suggestion. However, one person gave me a reason why siezen has advantages:

“You know, you can’t get you a… L… say”

I immediately replied, “Why would I want to say that?”

On a first-name basis and appreciation, that’s great.

And if you’re new to this country, it’s possible: spontaneously on a first-name basis with top-class people you’re seeing for the first time.

Back to Peter:

I was even more impressed by his curiosity, by his performance and by his projects with children.

The fact that I am always deeply moved when people like him, in this example at the age of 82, pass on their knowledge in such a contemporary, spontaneous and humorous way, also shows my worldview of being old.

All the more I want to share it when someone like Peter shakes my beliefs.

I learned again:

📍Most of the time, we limit ourselves based on assumptions. But when we are brave, when we break unnecessary barriers, like here, when we give others the chance to join regardless of their positions, something magical happens.

📍Also, the best way to test something is to just do it. And don’t ask for permission.

Yes, we are in Germany: spontaneous, curious, humorous, full of empathy and appreciation. Everyone contributes.

Thanks today to the Peters, who make it possible to learn from each other regardless of age.

Now to you: is per DU per se disrespectful from your point of view?

Susan Omondi
(Image: Peter Eyerer and Christina Granacher taken by Philip Bock )