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Executive Development: the importance of language skills

Executive development: Why UK senior executives need to be able to speak a foreign language by Mike Hollands Managing Director of Toniks Languages
www.toniks.com

In the UK we find senior executives from throughout Europe running British HQ companies. Rather than operate as Basil Fawlty, speaking loudly and slowly in swedish, french, italian, german or spanish to their universally english speaking employees; these elite of european leaders typically have excellent english. They are adept in both verbal and written forms, successfully delivering motivational speeches and board-level presentations, and conversing in word perfect emails.

A British born career executive, with ambitions to run international divisions in foreign countries, where english is not the first language, needs to seriously consider if not having a second, or even a third, language puts them at a disadvantage. International business is challenging, competitive and delivers great reward. To operate at this level an executive has to be equipped in all the right skills. Competency in foreign languages is a necessity.

Why do we not develop our language skills? We've heard them all before - the 5 most common excuses from our students are:

1. Not enough time
Initially you may think time must be put aside for a crash course, or to meet tutors face to face. Developments in broadband and web conferencing software offer convenience. Language tutors can now meet senior executives in real-time and on-line from wherever and whenever. Technology enables language tutorials to fit into busy schedules. For example, Mark Chataway studies Portuguese with Toniks Languages. Mark travels abroad on average 3 days every week. He schedules one-to-one lessons with his Brazilian tutor. Logging onto the internet from his hotel room, Mark and his tutor do the lessons together on-line. Making good use of time and maintaining his own development, Mark's remote learning also gives him a refreshing personal break from an exhaustive travel schedule.

2. I'm past learning
No, you are never too old. Our most mature student at Toniks Languages is a 72 year old executive intent on improving his mandarin for monthly business trips to Shanghai. Stephen Mitchell-Cox lives in Calgary and his online tutor is located in Shenyang, China. Neither age nor a 14 hour time difference gets in the way of learning.

3. Everyone else speaks english
If you have lived or travelled in a foreign country you know how difficult it can be not to speak the local language. Reliance on local staff to speak english may be effective enough, but not every employee will speak and write english well. And objectivity can be hindered by a well-intended circle forming around the english-speaking management. This clique may speak the best English, but may not be the most candid or even competent employees.

Take this experience of an executive who approached Toniks Languages after a visit to Quebec. At the seminar where he was a panellist, he discovered - unfortunately too late - that the Q&A session was to be conducted in French. Stumbling through, but determined not to get caught out he realised he really needed to improve his language skills. On international turf, english is not an acceptable means to do business 100% of the time.

5. There's so much to learn, why bother starting?
Focus on what's important and you'll quickly improve your basic skills. At Toniks Languages, we suggest you start with these 4 priorities:

1. Learn how to send routine, short email responses in a foreign language. Review recent emails to collect all the common responses made in English. Ask the language tutor to draft with you similar replies in the local language.

2. Simulate meeting people for the first time. Practice introducing yourself and describing your role and company. Learn how to ask people about their roles and position in the company. Request the tutor provides varied responses to be certain you understand what people say back to you!

3. Work on delivering a presentation in the foreign language. Ask the tutor to coach you, and even have the session recorded so you can replay the lesson at a convenient time.

4. Focus on understanding the foreign language version of your company's website to develop comprehension skills of relevant terminology and keep up to date with local news and events.

Summary
Being able to speak a foreign language helps the executive operate more effectively. And it makes the executive more marketable. With today's technology solutions, used Toniks Languages, executives can interact live and on-line with a language tutor from anywhere - at home, in the office or at a hotel. Making it easier to learn - lack of time to learn is no longer a plausible excuse!

Mike Hollands is the Managing Director of Toniks Languages. Executives wishing an online demonstration of Toniks Languages services should contact Mike on ++ 44 (0) 207 193 8614. Further information can be found at www.toniks.com.