When language is a barrier to success – Photo: http://www.ohiomsc.org
In today’s “global marketplace”, we are bound to work with professionals who do not necessarily share the same language as us. From working with multi-national teams, to immersing ourselves into different cultures, breaking the language barrier at work can be tricky. And very often, we are pushed outside of our comfort zones.
English is not my first language, as I grew up speaking mostly French. Working and evolving in places spanning Africa, Europe and the Americas has taught me about the power of language at work. Not just from the surface-level sense of diversity, but from a deeper, more personal sense of self.
As reported by the January 2014 issue of the Journal of International Business Studies, language barriers influence how multi-national team members are perceived, mostly in terms of trustworthiness. And really, without trust, how successful can our work within a team environment, be?
So how do we prevent language from being a success barrier at work?
1. Respect is KEY! I’ve seen many multi-national and diverse teams struggle at work due to an inherent lack of respect for others’ cultures and languages. Before starting work, be aware of the language and cultural differences within your team. Educate yourself on these, even if by just asking questions, and strive to respect differences!
2. Rules, rules, rules! Set rules for working in environments where language may be a barrier. From asking team members to speak slowly so as to be better understood, to limiting interruptions, set some ground rules!
3. If possible, meet in person! Trust is a great antidote to language barriers. Meeting in person, or at the least via video conferencing, allows to establish this trust!
4. Check on the progress! Make sure to ask how things are going, and if team members are feeling lost or out of touch. Express your own confusion if necessary, and seek clear answers!
5. Last but not least, be patient! Language is a strong barrier to success at work. While it can certainly be mitigated, it requires work and time.
Have you ever dealt with language as a barrier to career success?
The Corporate Sis.
