Language and communications in general can be a barrier in getting deliverable and certain tasks complete. When there is a language barrier involved, it can be even more challenging. But with the right technologies, you can be very successful.
Communication is a key element in all successful business dealings and there is nothing worse than having a conversation where one of the parties ends up confused or misunderstood. It is becoming increasingly common for companies to do business or have staff that doesn’t speak English as their first language. With the nuances of language, it is easy to have misinterpretations due to poor translation. When conveying messages that entail a lot of details, you will want to make sure your message is crystal clear, especially when it comes to tasks and deliverables.
If you are conducting business via international conference call with people who aren’t native English speakers, you have a couple of options to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
* Have a translator on the call. Hiring a translator to repeat what you say in the dominant language of the participants can be extremely useful. It is important to have your call agenda in place so that the translator will know what the call entails. Remember to also give them short bursts of conversation to work with rather than talking for 10 minutes, and expecting your translator to be able to translate verbatim what you have said. Ideally, you will work with your translator in advance to find the best system.
* Have the call transcribed. Having a transcription of your call is an easy way to make sure that everyone has a copy of exactly what was said. This transcription can be translated into various languages and given to your callers. This will make it even easier for them to read back to clarify any questions that they might have.
* Create a CD or mp3 of the call that is translated into the language your participants require. This way they can play it back, rewind and listen to the call as many times as they need to in order to understand the nuances.
When speaking to someone who does not speak your language as their first language, it is also very important to avoid colloquialisms, slang, or specific sayings that might not have any meaning, or a completely different meaning, to the person that you area speaking with. For example, in the UK they use the word trousers instead of pants, and when someone says pants, they typically mean an undergarment. If two English speaking cultures can have such vagaries in the meaning of a word, imagine what could happen with someone who inadvertently mistranslates a phrase or word into another language.
With more and more business being conducted between people of different languages, it’s important to ensure everyone understands your messaging when conducting a conference call. The right tools and technologies can help overcome this issue.