More Companies Are Investing in Language Training (Here’s Why)

Language training will become even more important for global companies in 2020. Here’s why you should start investing in it:

The shift is on, and the stakes are high. The modern workplace is evolving, and talent developers are realizing the power and influence of L&D even more.

Nowadays, opportunities for learning are the top thing that keeps employees happy and satisfied. In fact, a Linked Workplace Learning Report has revealed that 94% of employees say they would stay in a company longer if it invested in their L&D. This is why companies are prioritizing their employees’ learning and heavily investing their efforts and resources in workplace training.

But what kind of training do employees need most to stay competent in the global workplace? Is it tech skills? Business skills? Or leadership skills? While these may sound like great training focuses, the most strategic enabler for international businesses today is language training. Here are five reasons why you should look into it too:

There’s a great need for multilingual speakers

Whether companies have offices abroad, are partnered with international firms, or are striving to meet the needs of a diverse customer base, one thing is for sure — the ability to communicate in multiple languages is becoming imperative for the successful growth of any business.

That’s exactly why the demand for bilingual/multilingual workers has more than doubled in 2015. And by the time you’re reading this, those numbers will have definitely increased. This reflects the world’s changing dynamics and international demands, which both require a second (or even third) language.

If your workforce is equipped with much-needed language skills to respond to clients and collaborate with their peers, that’s when you’ll know your company is ready to take on the future of work. Because the future of work is one that is multicultural and multilingual.

Most companies are operating globally, not just locally anymore

As companies are expanding their reach and influence, language learning will soon become an integral part of a company’s corporate strategy. Various industries are seeing rapid growth and expansion, which is why employees need the right language skills to carry out their tasks no matter where they go or who they collaborate with. 

Whether your organization operates locally or internationally, professionals are expected to have not just the technical skills needed to get the job done, but also the communicative abilities to work effectively with their colleagues and clients who come from different cultural backgrounds.

This may be obvious to international businesses, but this applies to everyone. Not doing business abroad? That still doesn’t mean all of your customers speak English! If your customers speak only in their native language, your employees should be ready to interact with them. Or else, new opportunities and business deals are at risk of being lost because of miscommunication or mistranslation.

One of the best ways to address this? Having a hyper-personalized language training solution you can seamlessly deploy at scale and via digital means. In that way, it’s less challenging to implement even for organizations who’d like to do this globally.

Diverse teams are emerging

As companies start to see both the workforce and market becoming equally diverse, the more they’re resolving to train their employees to learn a global language. With economies growing, employees will be in contact with people of cultures far different from their own. Thus, speaking to them in a common language is important. This enables professionals to work as productively and efficiently as possible.

Learning a language also translates into learning about a different country; studying its history, customs, and people. So, with language learning linked to cultural sensitivity and inclusivity, employees will not only become language competent but also culturally competent. And the great thing is that you’re also making your company become more inclusive too!

By making a long-term investment in a language learning strategy, you’re not only investing in your employees’ L&D and career advancement. You’re also helping your employees engage and compete in a global, multilingual economy. 

Employees have trouble communicating

The world of work is going global. Although it’s an exciting time for businesses who want to do the same, it also poses an impending challenge for the modern employee: to effectively communicate across borders.

Employees in every function of a company need to be able to have the confidence to get their message across. And that can only happen if they’re equipped with the language skills to do so. With every meeting held, report written, and deal closed, communication is an integral factor. That’s why it cannot be denied that regardless of industry and job position, language skills are indispensable.

Increase your employees’ potential and productivity

A strong command of language skills is much more valuable to companies than ever. Those who have employees who speak two or more languages are better suited to help improve internal communication, efficiency, and productivity. What’s to say they can’t do the same when dealing with a client or customer? And as language training brings benefits to your organization, it also increases confidence, helping maximize your workforce’s professional skills. 

Don’t be like most training managers who are prioritizing the wrong things in their L&D strategy. So, why not help grow your talent by investing in your employees’ language learning just like other multinational companies are?