Your team faces language barriers in brainstorming sessions. How can you maximize their diverse perspectives?

use visual aids like diagrams and charts, and employ translation tools or services. Encourage the use of simple, clear language and provide written summaries of key points. Create an inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing ideas, and consider having bilingual team members or interpreters facilitate the discussion.

Aprovechar las herramientas de traducción en tiempo real es un paso adelante para superar las barreras lingüísticas en las sesiones de lluvia de ideas, pero también puedes complementar esta estrategia con algunas prácticas adicionales. Implementa un formato de comunicación visual, como pizarras compartidas o diagramas, que permitan a los miembros del equipo expresar sus ideas de manera gráfica y universal.

Within the virtual context, a great way for ideas to be conveyed in a visual manner is through the use of online whiteboard platforms such as Miro. These tools are great for brainstorming virtually as they allow for real-time collaboration.

Language barriers are common in group settings, especially in a globally diverse company. To address this, I would research the participants’ locations before the brainstorming session and identify strategies to overcome common language barriers. Additionally, I would foster an inclusive and welcoming environment by asking everyone to introduce themselves and share a fun fact or recent accomplishment. This approach helps reduce nerves and makes everyone feel more comfortable.

I've found that presenting to groups, in meetings with colleagues or on calls with clients where there is some language barrier (often very impressively speaking in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th language!) improves the quality of those interactions. And personally, it has benefitted my communication style too. It pushes us all to be concise and clear. It stops the use of jargon and those awful corporate phrases that mean very little. And it is the best sense-check for if an idea/concept/document is going to work for a global audience. Truly enlightening and a reminder that the best experts and leaders are often the ones who can communicate simply and effectively!

Although I am leading an IT team where using jargon is, or can be, inevitable, I've found that using business perspective, that is, how a business person will describe the issue, very supportive. This way we all have a clear understanding.

Speaking is often more difficult than writing in a second language. Acknowledge this and offer different methods to capture ideas. Allow participants to submit ideas in writing after group brainstorming sessions and follow up with key participants individually if necessary.

In multicultural teams this can be, sometimes, a real issue. We all speak "good" English (or another language) - but when it comes to concrete topics, sometimes both the vocabulary and understanding makes people silent. This is a potential risk - either people do not feel involved & being a part of the team's "movement", or you miss worth ideas from the "silent" ones. A good approach is to dedicate MORE TIME to brainstorming meeting - to let the team-mates to help and translate parts of the messages - and let all listen to the message and have it as a part of the bigger dialogue. And, ask at the end, how the people are and how the feel about the discussion & conclusions... Small things with big impact... :)

Cambia la lluvia de ideas por otras técnicas de creatividad mucho más productivas, dinámicas y motivadoras. Te recomiendo probar el brainstorming inverso, el pensamiento lateral o Gamestorming.

It's important to maintain a good sense of humor and keep translators handy. Using pencil and paper is also a great tip, as drawing is a universal language that everyone can understand.