Why is multilingualism in business important?
7000! That’s the number of languages (excluding dialects) spoken worldwide¹. Today, more and more businesses are internationalised, requiring employees to use multiple languages. This phenomenon is called multilingualism. It refers to a community or country where several languages are spoken. Be careful not to confuse this with plurilingualism, which only concerns an individual, whereas multilingualism concerns a group of individuals. You won’t be surprised to find at the top of the most spoken languages in the world… drumroll please… English, followed by Chinese, Hindi (yes, we were surprised too), Spanish, and finally French.
Also, did you know that 67% of recruiters favour candidates with a multilingual profile over a monolingual profile²? Just think about that! That’s why in this article we’ll explain why multilingualism in business is increasingly important.
1. The French and languages, a complicated relationship…
The French don’t like languages! Bottom of the class, if we take the example of English proficiency, we see that only 13% of French people consider themselves competent in this area³, even though it’s a skill increasingly demanded by businesses. But why are the French so reluctant to master a language? According to David Stenning, director of Interface Business Languages in Paris, it’s a Latin phenomenon (and therefore not exclusively French), as he has also observed this reluctance in other European countries like Italy, for example.
2. Using only one language in business? It’s risky!
Globalisation and the increasing internationalisation of businesses are pushing employees to use a second language, and it’s (spoiler alert) generally English… But what happens if a company doesn’t use other languages in its exchanges with clients, partners, etc.? First, it risks losing turnover: up to 25% of sales⁴. Indeed, it won’t be able to seize market opportunities due to a lack of linguistic skills among its employees.
Imagine one of your salespeople is about to close a deal, and the client has one last question about the terms of the contract. The salesperson, not having fully understood what the potential client was asking, will respond, let’s be clear, completely off the mark… this will frustrate the client, call into question the contract, and ultimately cause them to back out. Be aware that this type of misunderstanding can cause a company to lose 32% of its clients⁵, just due to a lack of language skills.
Moreover, your company’s brand image risks suffering. An organisation that regularly offers its employees various types of training will have a better image among its staff but also in the market, attracting young talent hungry to learn, or new investors.
So this is not a decision to be taken lightly. Consider the pros and cons of speaking only one language in the company because the consequences, in the short and long term, can be significant and affect the sustainability of your business.
3. Five advantages of multilingual communication in business
Strengthening the bond between colleagues: coming together around one or more common languages strengthens bonds and synergies within the company. For example, if in your company you regularly use English and Spanish, colleagues who are not comfortable in one of these languages can ask for help from those who speak it fluently, thus strengthening bonds. Q.E.D.
Outpacing your competitors: speaking in your client’s native language will show a certain respect for their culture and identity, earning you points for a potential contract signing. Moreover, this reinforces the trust your clients have in you, as you show goodwill by communicating in their native language without them having to ask. Also note that by practising multilingualism, you’ll have a better view of the market and can conduct an in-depth market study. A complete market study means more identified opportunities. Finally, you’ll have a better understanding of local customs and legislation, so you’ll be better able to understand the environment in which you operate.
Talent from all horizons: your company will be much more attractive if it practices multiple languages than if it doesn’t. If you need new talent, you can post your job offers in multiple countries, and thus recruit professionals from around the world with different visions and ideas.
To infinity and beyond: the more multilingual your employees are, the easier it will be to conquer new countries and make yourself known worldwide. It’s a chain reaction: the more market share you have, the more your turnover increases significantly. Of course, be careful not to rush headlong into new territories; first build an action plan taking into account all the parameters of your market.
Less turnover: if your colleagues see that you offer training, and more specifically language training, this will encourage them to stay with the company as they can hope for career advancement following their skills development in this area. This is even more important in the current context of “the great resignation”.
4. And what about the employees in all this?
We’ve seen plenty of advantages of multilingualism for businesses, but what about for the employees?
The language bonus: even if not all companies in France do this, you can ask to receive a “language bonus” from your employer. Note, however, that this is regulated and must meet certain conditions, such as passing an aptitude test justifying the employee’s level and thus allowing them to claim this bonus. In Geneva, this is a common practice motivating employees to learn multiple languages in order to be professionally operational.
Strong employability: between two candidates with the same profile, one speaking two, three, or even four languages and the other only one, the company will strongly favour the multilingual profile. It’s a real asset for the employee. They can more easily negotiate their salary, ask for higher positions…
High neurocognitive flexibility: the fact of regularly switching from one language to another requires a certain mental gymnastics that promotes brain development. The employee will then find it easier to solve problems, come up with new ideas, and will reason differently than a monolingual person. This neurocognitive flexibility also allows the employee to perform multiple tasks simultaneously.
Enhanced creativity: knowing the culture and habits of a country can give rise to new ideas that a monolingual employee wouldn’t have thought of. Creativity is stimulated by the environment; a multilingual employee will therefore be more open-minded and more effective in carrying out their duties.
Prospects for internal advancement: this is one of the main reasons why employees desire to train in English (or any other language): for intra-company job promotions.
So don’t hesitate any longer and go for it! Offering language training in your company can only be beneficial for your business and your employees.
And also read: Transversal training, why you should no longer train without mapping?
1: source: futura
2: Les Echos article, study conducted by Céreq
3: Eurostat study
4 and 5: ETS Global and Ipsos Public Affairs study
6: scientific study from Pennsylvania State University
