Canada prides itself on its diversity. Diversity has enriched our country with new cuisine, new art, new celebrations, and new perspectives on world issues. And although our diversity has brought many benefits, it has also brought many challenges.
Communication has always been an area in which managers struggle. And as our industry continues to cultivate employee diversity, managers will be faced with even greater communication challenges The challenge is not only in the realm of verbal communications but also in actions, body language, and attitudes.
In the Past
A friend of mine once related how he had learned the language of the shop floor. When he (an MBA graduate) was recounting this achievement, he was referring to the use of slang expressions that permeated the language of the shop, not to a foreign language or languages.
He did recognize, though, that the language he used in the boardroom or with other managers would be ill– received in the shop. The illustrations and examples of the board room were not the best way to communicate with employees on the floor.
Today the need to communicate within an organization has become much more complicated. The shop and the boardroom are still two different worlds, but they are not the only worlds. Cultural differences can and do exist at all levels and in all departments of a given organization.
What’s your view of the company’s future?
Recently, a client and I posed the above question to several candidates for a management position. In a number of cases we were met with blank expressions; some candidates did not comprehend the question’s meaning.
These candidates were not illiterate individuals. They were very intelligent people, all with at least a bachelor’s degree—a number had a master’s degree. They spoke more languages than I will ever understand. However, although they were all fluent in English, they did not understand many of the nuances and innuendos of the language.
To most of them, “view” was a purely literal term. It did not represent concept or forecast or idea. Thus they met the above question with blank stares or irrelevant or inappropriate responses.
The manager of the twenty– first century must think deeply about the words and terms he/she uses. He needs to speak and understand “Globish,” since it is the lingua franca of the twenty– first century.
“Globish” was new to me when my client mentioned the word after our interviews. A quick google confirmed that the portmanteau word is a shorthand for Global English, an English that considers socio– economic, generational, and cultural differences when communicating.
The issue is not one sided
Until this point, I have spoken from the perspective of an anglophone. However, it is equally important for people from non– anglophone backgrounds to learn the nuances of the language.
An entrepreneur from a foreign country may find it difficult to understand the apparent negative reaction or lack of action on the part of his employees after he has issued a set of instructions. In the event that there is a diverse work force in the establishment, people with a similar cultural background to the boss may easily understand what is being requested and will thus appear cooperative with the right attitude. Native anglophones, however, may misunderstand the request if it is communicated in a different dialect of Globish than they are used to. Seeming stubbornness or non– cooperation is often just a misunderstanding.
Similarly, the way individuals initiate contact with one another may vary considerably from one culture to another. A normal way of addressing a manager in one culture could be seen as an insult in another.
What to do?
If one wants to successfully communicate in a Globish environment it is important to do a few things.
i)Back up verbal requests in writing.
ii)Watch for lack of understanding on people’s faces.
iii)State the same request in more than one way. (Although this tactic could be counterproductive if it causes confusion).
iv)Ask employees to give you an idea of how they plan to address the issue.
v)Learn the cultural idiosyncrasies of the persons working in your company.
All of the above suggestions will help you to become fluent in Globish—certainly an asset in today’s global marketplace.
Fred Pamenter can be reached at PPBDconsulting@aol.com
