Professional language services such as translation and localization can do much to enhance corporate culture and when used effectively will boost productivity, employee engagement, communication, and inclusivity.
Below we examine a few of the ways in which language services can enhance your corporate culture, improving business strategies for employee management, and offering tips on how to best achieve this.
Professional language services enhance clear communication
Within any business environment clear, concise, accurate and understandable communication is vital for business success.
Whether this be with employees, key stake holders or customers, effective communication will ensure there are no misunderstandings and that everyone is working from the same page.
In order to meet the diverse language needs within a global business it is essential to use professional language services.
These should include:
Translation services – ensure all corporate communications, from emails to policy documents, are accurately translated into the languages spoken by employees. This minimizes misunderstandings and can ensure that everyone has access to the same information and knowledge. Use a reliable and trusted language services provider (especially for legal documents which require certified translations) as this will guarantee your firm operates within the law and abides by industry or government regulations.
Interpreting services – use professional interpreters during meetings, conferences, and training sessions to ensure real-time understanding and participation from non-native speakers. For meetings or conferences where there many speakers, consider using professional language services providers who offer specialist equipment and can cope with translating multiple languages at one time.
Professional language services promote inclusivity
For global firms, inclusivity is key, especially for expats, onboarding and employee training.
Professional language services offer an adaptable, flexible method by which all employees are able to engage with materials and improve their knowledge.
The following points can help to improve inclusivity, especially with non-native language employees, expatriates, or other employees with language accessibility difficulties.
Multilingual onboarding – provide onboarding materials and training information in multiple languages. This helps new employees feel welcomed and valued, regardless of their native language, and ensures that knowledge will be comparable across all employees and levels. Ask for feedback from new recruits to check suitability for their language needs and adapt as required.
Diverse communication channels – encourage the use of multiple languages in internal communication platforms, and provide tools for translation and language support. Ensure communications are localized for maximum relevancy and user-friendliness. If this is done in-house, ensure native speaking employees are used for the translations and that their adaptions are accurate.
Professional language services enhance employee engagement
Working with people from diverse cultures, who speak different native languages, is really rewarding, especially when all employees feel empowered to actively engage with colleagues.
In order to ensure that everyone is able to make the most of this opportunity, it can be necessary for employees to overcome any unconscious bias regarding different work-cultures, learn some basic language skills, and develop cultural awareness regarding different cultures and backgrounds.
Aspects which can enhance employee engagement include:
Cultural awareness training – conduct training sessions that educate employees about the cultural backgrounds and communication styles or preferences of their colleagues. This fosters a more inclusive and empathetic workplace in which employees understand each other and are accepting of differences. Offering unconscious bias training will also support employees to realize and challenge their own biases and prejudices. Full employee engagement requires an understanding of other’s views, the ability to listen openly without judgement, and the opportunity to share your opinions.
Language learning opportunities – offering language learning programs as a professional development boost not only helps employees improve their language skills but also shows the company’s investment in their personal growth.
Professional language services strengthen company identity
A company which claims clear brand values around inclusivity, diversity, communication and engagement, must actively strengthen company identity to ensure these values apply at every level of the company and in every region.
A positive corporate culture relies upon these values being accurately communicated in every language, to all employees.
Professional language service providers can help to do this through:
Unified messaging – ensuring the company’s vision, mission, and values are consistently communicated in all languages will help to maintain a cohesive corporate identity and culture across different regions. This will inevitably be passed on from employees to customers.
Brand consistency – use professional translation services for all external communications, ensuring the brand message remains consistent and professional globally.
Implementing professional language services to enhance corporate culture
To effectively implement professional language services, consider the following steps:
Assess language needs – conduct a thorough assessment to understand the languages spoken by your employees and customers.
Choose a reliable provider – partner with a reputable language service provider that offers high-quality translation, interpretation, and localization services in the language(s) you require.
Monitor and adapt – continuously monitor the effectiveness of the language services and be ready to adapt based on feedback from employees and customers.
Integrating professional language services into a global company’s operations can significantly enhance corporate culture.
By promoting clear communication, inclusivity, and collaboration, these services not only improve internal dynamics but also strengthen customer relations and brand identity on an international scale.
At Creative Word, we have worked with global clients for over two decades, helping them to ensure effective communication with their employees, and their clients, no matter which language they speak or where they are based.
We help to promote a positive corporate culture through our extensive range of training courses which emphasize and teach cultural awareness and additional ‘soft skills’ required for collaborative experiences and inclusive workplaces.
To find out more about how we can help you to improve your corporate culture, contact us here.
Alternatively, you can view our services, or check out our range of training courses.
