How to avoid conflict within teams
It is very common for workplaces to feature people for whom English is a second language. Human resources managers and team leaders therefore need to be aware of the potential for misunderstandings and conflict arising from language miscommunication issues, especially when a new person joins your team. Here are some tips to help you make sure nothing is lost in translation.
Assess language skills during the interview stage
Although you can get an insight into the person’s spoken English during the interview, it is worth remembering that an employees’ true ability may be affected by nervousness on the day. Making an assessment a formal part of the process will give you a much better understanding of whether the employee will need support. It will also highlight any potential communication issues that are likely to arise so you can put plans in place to ensure they are minimised.
We offer a range of English language testing services, ranging from basic to detailed, including:
- Free self-serve online test, with automatic notification of approximate level
- Bespoke written task corrected by a trainer, with descriptor-rating scores
- Individual 5-10 minute interview with a trainer, with detailed level reporting
Language training options
Once you have highlighted areas for improvement, there are several options to help fill the gaps quickly and cost-effectively. You could choose an online course, or you might decide a school-based immersion course would be more helpful, immersing your employee in an English language environment with other businesspeople also keen to learn.
We have both online and immersion courses to suit every need and English level.
Consider your choice of language
Keep all communication clear and concise. Avoid long complex sentence structures and idioms, and words that have multiple or ambiguous meanings. Be as specific as possible, for example, when giving deadlines. Use dates and times, rather than ‘as soon as possible’. When talking, slow down and ask your new employee to slow down as well. This will help them to think through what they want to say. Use active listening, paraphrasing, and repetition to ensure successful communication. Where appropriate, use visual aids, such as flowcharts or diagrams alongside any written text.
Cultural awareness within the team
Communication is not just about language. You can also help prevent communication barriers by building cultural awareness within your team. Find out more about the new employee’s culture and get to know some of the idiosyncrasies, gestures, symbols, and the type of language used that might differ between their first language and English. When teams are functioning well, they develop their own common culture and ways of working together, but it is important to remember that under pressure people will often revert to a ‘default’ way of communicating which may be less well received by colleagues and this is often this which leads to friction.
Our international communication and cultural training courses will give you the knowledge and confidence to work effectively across cultures and identify potential issues before they arise
Encourage communication
Let your employees know that your door is always open for a chat and that you are there to listen and help work through any issues, such as language and communication problems.
Make them feel valued by asking which is their preferred communication style and assure them that you will try to accommodate them.
Address problems as soon as they arise
It is important to address issues arising from language barriers or cultural differences as soon as you can. Misunderstandings become much harder to deal with if left to fester. You might decide to talk to individuals separately, or you might want to get everyone together in a room to talk things through. The most important thing is to ensure that everyone feels they are listened to and respected.
Address language and culture in your policies and training
Consider having policies and other key documents translated into more than one language and introduce training to ensure they are understood and implemented. Sessions in diversity, cultural differences, and communication can help to highlight and address best practices in these areas and ensure that all employees uphold the same standards.
Celebrate every culture in your team
Take time to celebrate the diverse languages and cultures within your team. Exploring traditional holidays or festivals - and sharing regional foods - together will help team members get to know each other better and make them feel valued as individuals.
We are specialists in workforce training solutions.
How can we help you?
- Review your existing training processes and carry out a needs analysis
- Test your employees’ skills levels
- Recommend training options
- Provide training
What will you gain?
- Cost-effective virtual training solutions
- Increased employee engagement and confidence
- Improved international communications leading to better business performance
More from the corporate blog:
- Top tips for asking for a training budget
- 7 international communication tips for giving feedback
- 6 future work skills you should be developing now
- How to assess the language levels of your employees: a step-by-step guide
- How to adapt your cultural style and language for virtual networking
- Using training budgets for virtual training
- Tips for keeping your workforce motivated
Find out more
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