A simple northern German business recipe: butter with the fish

A simple northern German business recipe: butter with the fish

In northern Germany, people say “Butter bei die Fische”—literally, “butter with the fish”—when it is time to speak plainly or get down to business. This charming expression is more than a saying: it is a northern German philosophy of life, especially in business.

Imagine you are in a project meeting. The presentations are impressive, perhaps also tiring, the discussions stimulating, but somehow the heart of the matter never seems to be addressed. This calls for northern German pragmatism: “Put some butter with the fish”—in other words, let us address the essential points directly, make decisions and act.

If your next meeting raises more questions than it answers, “butter with the fish” reminds you that direct #Communication and an unvarnished “let’s get to the point” can sometimes achieve more than beating around the bush.

“Butter with the fish” also means calling things by their names, taking responsibility and actively finding solutions. No hiding behind empty phrases or excuses: honest, open communication instead. This understanding encourages clarity and #Efficiency in business.

“Butter with the fish” is therefore more than a proverb. It implies a call to action and implementation. Words should be followed by deeds. Instead of getting lost in detail, it puts the #Focus on what matters. A lesson in #Productivity we should all bring into our business—and perhaps also our private—lives.

Let us follow the northern example: take that northern German wisdom forward and, when it matters, put some butter with the fish!