Speaking the same language: How to communicate with multilingual teams across the globe

Most companies today have employees that speak a range of different languages, whether they are solely based in the US or have a multinational presence. However, English tends to be widely understood as a default – both internally and externally — when conducting business with colleagues and partners across regions, countries and continents.

We are all familiar with the benefits of “speaking the same language” in business to ensure we embrace consistent company visions, messages and positions. But when it comes to engaging employees across different markets/countries, companies that don’t segment and translate at least some of their company-wide communication can also suffer in terms of talent motivation, retention and attraction.

While many office employees are proficient in English, you should not assume the same with remote or front-line workers. As organizations continue to assess return-to-work and hybrid models, they also have an opportunity to create a more inclusive culture, behavior and sense of belonging by engaging employees. The past two years witnessed an accelerated deployment of more digital tools and platforms, but there is still more to do!