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Learning & Development

Published August 2008

The Global Workforce: Communication Across Cultures

 

  Deepak Desai

For organizations to succeed in a global market in which geography quickly is becoming irrelevant, a shift in perspective is necessary. In a knowledge economy where expertise, innovation, intellectual property and research and development have replaced land and natural resources as the most valuable assets, human capital drives business growth.

It's estimated more than 70 percent of workers in developed countries are information workers. To sustain a competitive edge, organizations must continually develop and enhance these knowledge-based resources. Particularly in a global enterprise, collaboration is critical to facilitate the flow of information and optimize the exchange of expertise and ideas. In the new economy, effective communication is a fundamental imperative.

As the Internet evolves from a static collection of data into a dynamic, interactive platform, Web 2.0 is connecting people like never before. The second generation of wikis, social networking sites, collaboration tools and the like let people interact in ways previously unimaginable.

Technology offers the possibility of instant integration of far-flung offices into one united team. But the convergence of cultures and languages presents incredible communication challenges in the global enterprise.

Today's workers juggle time zones and cultural differences daily; employees preparing for international interactions must become familiar with the societal characteristics and professional etiquette of the countries with which they communicate. And they also have to face a critical challenge that likely will determine the limits of their career success: becoming proficient in English.

Mastering the Language of International Business

Twenty-five percent of the world's population speaks English; it's the official language of more than 50 countries. One billion people are learning English today, and according to the British Council, that number will double by 2015. At global corporations, non-native speakers from different countries rely on English to speak with one another. The need for English is pervasive — necessary at all levels of the organization, present in an ever-growing number of job situations and required for both internal and external communications.

As technology continues to connect people around the world in more innovative and dynamic ways, the need for business English proficiency is increasing dramatically.
English proficiency is equally important for employee career development. English-speaking employees in non-English-speaking countries have more opportunities for advancement than employees who don't speak English.

Further, the bar for proficiency is rising. Today an employee might need basic English skills to work on a global team or assist an English-speaking customer. As that same employee advances through the organization, he or she likely will need to develop more sophisticated skills to actively participate in business conversations, facilitate meetings or handle sensitive or unexpected matters with confidence.