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. Read the rest of this entry »

In the commercial world in the 1980s, business organizations often operate on a global basis. Even in Great Britain, companies are no longer as insular as in the past. Many are subsidiaries of foreign giants; for instance, ford in Great Britain is a subsidiary of the American parent company. Others, which are solely British, now regard Europe as part of the home market since the time when Great Britain joined the European common market.

The tendency towards globalization in the business world means that there is a requirement for companies and their personnel to be outward looking and aware of market conditions in every continent. This presents managements with a communication challenge which is almost as big as the organizations themselves.

The most effective way to provide that communication is to bring important personnel and clients together at one time and in one location. Besides providing managements with the opportunity to disseminate information formally, it also makes informal meeting between company personnel possible which can only be beneficial to the organization as a whole. In addition, there is the likelihood that the meeting together of people from different backgrounds will generate its own “group dynamic” as the American often call it, in the long term. This too is likely to be of value to the company when the delegates at a meeting pass on to their dealers their enthusiasm for the company’s products. Even in the electronic age with modern communications networks such as telex, telephone and, in the not too distant future, computer controlled electronic mail; there is still no substitute for personal contact. Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re an office professional who’s just been asked (okay, ordered) by your boss to organize the company’s first high-tech phone or internet conference call, you’re probably shaking in your boots. You have no clue how to go about. What if you screw up, lose the big account, and totally flush the future of your employer’s company down the toilet?

Well, we’re here to make sure you don’t. Read on to learn how to set up a conference call that will be the envy of every other admin in your office building. And don’t worry, it won’t hurt a bit.

Get a Game Plan
It’s always important to know what you’re doing and when. First, make sure you have a set date, time and number of participants laid out. Also, take into account any time zone differences if you’re doing some international conference calling or making a long distance conference call. Don’t try to schedule a meeting with a supplier in Asia for 2:00 AM their time. Unless, of course, they really want your company’s contract.

Now Tell Everyone Else
A month’s notice gives busy people the opportunity to pencil you into their datebook. Provide them with the date, basic instructions on accessing the phone conference, their dial-in number, and PIN. Also include the name of the organizer (you) and contact info, proposed start and end time, and topic. And, of course, give them a copy of the proposed agenda. Don’t know how to make one? Breath deep and calm down – we’ll get to that. Read the rest of this entry »