Language skills benefit both our cognitive abilities and our careers. So should we put more time and effort into learning a second or third language? How important are foreign languages at work and how does language training benefit us personally?
As monolingual speakers become the minority and powerful languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic take on economic capital, multilingualism within your workforce is becoming a necessity, rather than an option. Do you know what languages your prospective customers are speaking?
No matter how large or small an organization, whether it works online or offline, its employees will have to deal with a different culture or language at some point. This could be colleagues from abroad who haven’t fully mastered the local language yet, as well as partners, suppliers or customers in another country. Such encounters can be highly rewarding as they offer insights into a different culture and perspective.
When it comes to cross-cultural communication, soft skills such as listening and emotional intelligence can be just as important as hard language skills.In a globalized workplace, cultural cues can be easily misread or missed entirely, and soft skills play a big role in reducing miscommunication.
Effective communication isn’t just an exchange of information; it is also about understanding the emotion and intention behind the words. It is as much about being able to convey your message in the way you hope it to be received, as it is about being able to listen and gain the full meaning of what is being said to you.
Brexit has occupied the front pages of both European and International publications. The entire world is watching expenctantly to see if the project of a common Europe will crumble under the unexpected decision of 52% of the British population. At the moment, the exit of the UK from the EU seems very likely to become a reality.