Attaining fluency in English will do more than just make your interactions abroad a little smoother and your CV that bit more impressive to prospective employers. In fact, in a business context, fluency takes on a whole other level of importance, and can actually help drive companies towards success on a global scale.
However, understanding how to drive your company towards success through fluency must begin with understanding the various ways that English can be employed in a business context to your advantage.
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Access to a larger market
As a global language, and the language of business, the easiest way to reach new clients is by getting in touch in English. While you may not always encounter clients with English levels as impressive as your own, your fluency will nonetheless help overcome what would have otherwise been a language barrier, and ultimately a missed opportunity.
This meeting of two cultures through one language is the key to broadening your clientele and expanding your business. Not only could this lead to increased revenue, but it may also do wonders for your brand awareness, extending it beyond the borders of your home country. For more information on current market trends, check out MporChards.com.
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Global communication
While in the process of expansion, fluency in English will ensure that you can negotiate and sell yourself as well as you do in your own language. If you are unable to explain and promote yourself in an international capacity, you run the risk of a potential deal falling through or settling for less than what you deserve.
Moreover, should any mishaps occur during talks, fluency in English will aid you in being able to understand the issue at hand as well as to apologise in an appropriately polite and professional manner. It is one thing to understand the use of the present perfect, it is another to be able to effectively employ subtle diplomatic language in sticky situations.
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Competitive advantage
Fluency in English could set your business apart from other companies as it can mean access to global opportunities or funding that are only available to those with proficiency in the language, giving you a competitive advantage.
Studies have found a direct connection between the ability to directly communicate and trade volume, which means that investing in mastering the English language is also an investment in your business. While other languages like Chinese and Spanish are also extremely useful, English remains one of the most widely used on an international scale.
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International talent
To keep driving growth and progress, you will want the best of the best working for your business. The catch is that those people won’t always be based in your home country. In this case, fluency in English is vital in removing this obstacle.
Through English, you will be able to create a diverse workforce that will also add to your competitive advantage as this international talent could also provide insight into local markets, and even regulations. Armed with this knowledge, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions in the interest of your business’ success.
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Access to information
The predominant language on the internet is English. What this means for your business is that to access the majority of the information that could prove useful to you, you’ll need an adequate level of fluency. That begins with finding the information in the first place, by searching for key terms, ergo a broad vocabulary is a must.
A great example of why English fluency is so vital at the moment is the development of tools such as open AI, which can help you optimise your workflow. Chat GPT has been trained on the internet, and therefore on the most commonly used language online. So, if you want to utilise these tools, you will need to speak their language – literally.
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Global networking
Having established how widely used the English language is in international business settings, it should be no surprise that conferences around the world will most likely be held in English. Not having some degree of fluency therefore means not being able to benefit from the chance to network or learn more about your industry.
Networking will contribute to your business’ success through building relationships that could eventually develop into important business contacts, and potentially open doors to new opportunities. You could also seek out advice from professionals in your field and gain some perspective on how to keep raising the bar.
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Customer satisfaction
If your company is not based in a country in which English is the native language, then making the effort to use the global lingua franca when providing customer support and information can go a long way. You will demonstrate an understanding of your international customers’ needs, which is a step towards guaranteeing customer satisfaction.
This is important for several reasons. Satisfied customers are more likely to become return customers, and retaining clientele is crucial if you want to continue growing and expanding your business. A happy customer is also a customer that may refer your business to others. Combined, these factors can work together to boost sales and overall revenue.
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Brand image
Your brand image is formed by your brand strategies and people’s opinions of you. However, to establish either on a global scale, you will need English fluency in your wheelhouse. Without it, there is no way for international clients to build an idea of what your company stands for.
One way you can create your brand’s voice is through content on your webpage. It goes without saying that while you should absolutely use your native language on your site, there should also be an English version. Knowing and using English well will help your customers connect with you, and also help establish you as a credible, professional international brand.
Next steps
Overall, the possibilities are endless for a business’ global success with English fluency in your skillset. While learning a language can certainly be challenging, the benefits of working towards proficiency stretch beyond the classroom and offer new opportunities that many businesses may not have otherwise had.
For those who aren’t so business-oriented, but are interested in helping businesses achieve their full potential through the English language, learning about esl certification courses is a great first step in your own career. Check out the TEFL.Org for more information.