In a global marketplace, companies need to reach across borders for many reasons: to serve the needs of a diverse customer base, manage corporate assets, execute international supply chains, and establish organizational structures. As organizations internationalize, the need for global leadership teams has become an essential mandate. As a result, it is imperative for current and future leaders to know how to think and operate internationally. That means organizations need to provide them with the tools they need to be successful. In addition to implementing traditional management development programs, it is essential for companies to create a well-conceived corporate language and communications strategy for conducting business on a global stage. Today, English is the most universally accepted language for international business and provides a baseline that puts everyone on the same page.
Benefits Provided by a Global Leadership Team
In the international business environment, leaders are faced with unique challenges when working across borders, yet the benefits of effective global leaders are significant. In 2014, Zenger Folkman produced the white paper, “Global Leadership Development,” which cites the following benefits of an effective global leadership team (Zenger, Jack. Global Leadership Development. Rep. Zenger Folkman. Orem, Utah; 2014):
- Strategic Perspective: Global executives offer a clearer long-range view of an organization’s future. They are adept at anticipating market and economic trends and are able to take broad strategy and translate it into meaningful goals and corporate objectives.
- Customer Focus and Understanding: Effective global leaders have a deep understanding and knowledge of their customers’ needs, concerns, and challenges, and view themselves as partners in helping customers accomplish their goals and objectives.
- Spotting Trends: Global leaders possess keen analytical skills that help them identify trends and opportunities.
- Engaged Team: The best global leaders built and maintained highly engaged and committed teams that leveraged skills to accomplish and exceed corporate objectives.
- Willingness to Take Risks: In addition to taking professional risks, global leaders also are recognized for capitalizing on unrealized potential and commending others for pushing boundaries.
- Deep Knowledge and Expertise: Global leaders possess a strong business acumen and understanding of all aspects of their organization and how they work together to accomplish corporate objectives.
In addition to building an expanded and enriched talent pool, global leadership training boosts individual self-awareness, intelligence, and empowerment. The personal and professional growth can lead to enhanced individual and organizational performance.
Corporate Language Strategy Is Essential
One essential factor in developing global leaders is establishing a singular corporate language by which all employees operate. While it is helpful for individual leaders to know and understand the language of the country in which they are operating, English language proficiency across the organization provides a common ground for communicating and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders. That makes adopting a uniform corporate language strategy a critical business initiative. Without it, organizations suffer from inefficiency, miscommunication, loss of knowledge sharing, friction, lost revenue, and other serious challenges that can jeopardize a company’s future.
When an organization mandates and operates with a corporate language strategy, global leaders are able to communicate with a diverse range of employees and business partners, increasing the sharing of firsthand information, which leads to better decision-making. Of course, implementing a corporate language strategy isn’t always easy. But when it is executed strategically and with sensitivity, international teams and organizations can communicate more effectively, increase efficiency and production, align workforces across borders, increase collaboration and inclusion, and better serve customers and partners globally.
Successful Language and Leadership Training Tips
To develop leaders with the global skills and competencies they need for success, consider the following language development, communication, and leadership tips:
- Implement a corporate language strategy. Whether the company is an American company with overseas operations or a European company focused on sales within the EU, a common corporate language is a must. According to a global survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit, more than two-thirds of executives say that English-language proficiency is an essential workforce skill (Competing Across Borders: How Cultural and Communication Barriers Affect Business. Rep. Economic Intelligence Unit, 2012).
- Embrace varied technologies for language training. Current and future leaders learn in very different ways. Some respond best to one-on-one training, while others thrive with technology-based applications. Explore self-study, in-person, and cloud-based applications to determine the best fit for the organization and its executives.
- Encourage “good” conflict and minimize “bad” conflict. Team harmony does not always lead to optimal outcomes. Conflict, when handled appropriately, can open communication lines and yield innovative solutions. To achieve “good” conflict, global teams need to operate within a common language where give-and-take discussion can happen, encouraging conflict resolution.
- Encourage diversity in senior leadership. In a global economy, companies need leaders who reflect the diversity of their workforces, customers, and partners. According to research conducted by the Center for Talent Innovation, diverse teams perform better financially, recruit better talent, experience less employee turnover, and offer greater benefits for those they serve (Hewlett, Sylvia Ann, Melinda Marshall, Laura Sherbin, and Tara Gonsalves. Innovation, Diversity and Market Growth. Rep. New York: Center for Talent Innovation, 2013). Diverse teams will be further effective when a corporate language strategy is in place to provide a common ground for communication.
- Understand global differences in motivation. Different cultures are motivated by various factors. Therefore, leaders need to cast aside a one-size-fits-all approach and tailor their language and communications strategies to each cultural group.
- Offer opportunities. Encourage learning and adoption of a corporate language by rewarding employees for educational accomplishments and language-strategy compliance. When leadership opens doors for employees to stretch their skill set and take on new responsibilities, team members develop the experience and confidence they need to succeed both personally and professionally.
Creating Global Leaders for the Future
Globalization is shaping the world economy. It is expanding horizons and opportunities as trade, technology, and investment increasingly connect countries, companies, and individuals around the world. But bringing people together from different countries and cultures comes with inherent challenges. To maximize growth and minimize financial, political, and other risks, companies need to ensure their management teams are well-prepared to conduct business in an international environment. Increasingly, this requires a common corporate language—most often English—that empowers global leaders and their organizations to successfully work with cross-border teams, attract and retain key talent, compete in the global marketplace, and achieve sustainable growth.
Therese Kelleher is the general manager, North America, for EF Corporate Solutions, an EF Education First company. The organization is a world leader in language training for businesses, governments and the educational sector. For more information, visit http://www.ef.edu/corporate
