International Mother Language Day: Comms Corner by Speakap

Today is International Mother Language Day, and as we celebrate the beauty and diversity of languages worldwide, let's take a moment to reflect on how language plays a crucial role in effective communication within our workplaces.

Without proper communication in place, it can sometimes feel like your colleagues are speaking another language. But what happens when they actually are? Communicating with a multilingual workforce has always presented challenges, but with the new world of work becoming decidedly digital, what emerging opportunities are there to bring a multinational workforce together?

What are the main challenges of having a multilingual workforce?

Challenge #1: Language barriers. For many individuals working in your team, English may not be their native language. They might have difficulty communicating their concerns, sharing opinions, or even understanding a task.

Challenge #2: Cultural differences. An employee from a western country may be more inclined to speak up, or question when something doesn’t feel right. Whereas an employee from an eastern culture may have been taught to never question the boss, even if you think they are wrong. If cultural differences like these are not considered, it could cause a lack of cohesion and become confusing for other team members.

Challenge #3: Technical challenges. An employee from a western background may be familiar with the Google Search Engine, while an employee in China could be completely foreign, as they use Baidu Search Engine. It’s important to remember that we cannot take our understanding of technology for granted. All countries have different developments in technology, so employers may not always be familiar with the software specifically used in that country.

Do any of these challenges sound familiar? Well, you're not alone!

Ensuring that nothing gets lost in translation is key to fostering a harmonious and inclusive work environment. Yet, we know it can sometimes be difficult.? Let’s discuss some ways you can tackle these challenges.

Overcoming internal communication challenges in a multilingual workplace

1. Adopt barrier-breaking best practices. To minimize language barriers, it is advised to use plain language, avoid expressions and use repetition to make sure your message comes across. That said, be careful to do so respectfully and ask your colleagues what is helpful for their comprehension. Written communication and visual communication are two additional ways you can support a multilingual workforce to ensure comprehension.?
2. Foster a multilingual, multicultural friendly culture. Not all companies have the luxury or opportunity of encouraging a multilingual workplace (especially when there is an agreed-upon official language) but all companies can create an environment where talents working in a language other than their native language feel comfortable asking questions, learning on the job, admitting misunderstandings and more. You may find it beneficial to create communication guidelines if the shift in languages is new for your company!
3. Enlist professional translators. Not all language barriers can be bridged with culture and many companies may find it beneficial to enlist interpreters and translation services to ensure the most important materials – particularly safety or regulation documents, but HR as well – are properly translated in all of the companies most prevalent languages.?
4. Create a targeted messaging strategy. Avoid mass messaging your entire workforce about news that only pertains to employees in certain roles and regions. Instead of sending out impersonal emails that are likely to be deleted, leverage your EXP’s CMS to target content to the sub-audiences who will find it most relevant.
5. Tech to the rescue. Using technology that is already equipped with multilingual capabilities is a great way to remove one point of friction in the multilingual workforce.

Bridging language barriers with technology

Speaking of tech solutions, let's talk about how employee communication platforms can help you avoid messages getting lost in translation.

If your company operates in multiple countries or has a bilingual workforce, you know the struggle of ensuring that every message posted on your platform is accessible to everyone.

This is where having an employee communication platform which has the option to enable Google Translate which ensures that every message is automatically translated into the preferred language of the recipient, making communication effortless and inclusive. Saying “au revoir” to language barriers has never been easier than this.

So, whether you're saying "Bonjour," "Hola," or "Labdien" you can always make sure that everyone feels heard and understood. Embracing linguistic diversity isn't just about accommodating different languages; it's about creating an inclusive environment where every voice matters.

[Free resource] ROI of a Mobile-First Employee Communications Platform

In the world of boardrooms and bottom lines, numbers carry the most weight.? Hence, we've crafted this guide to elucidate how to assess the return on investment (ROI) of an internal communications application tailored for your workforce.

What you'll read more about

• The current state of internal communications
• How to link internal communications to business outcomes
• 4 business impacts of a mobile-first employee communications platform
• Total ROI calculation + formula

Want to read more about #employeeengagement #internalcommunications #employeeexperience #hrtech?