Communicating With Diverse Global Teams

Communicating With Diverse Global Teams

In an increasingly global business world, it's essential that your communication lands well--in presentations, meetings, and even informal conversation. Delays in deliverables, confusion over roles and responsibilities, and other poor outcomes can be prevented with smart communication.

All people are acutely aware of body language as a way to judge content and meaning behind the words being used to communicate. Native and non-native speakers of English need to speak with clarity, incorporate valuable visual aids, and refrain from overusing idiomatic or colloquial phrasing.

Be sure to enunciate and speak with confidence when presenting. It's common to speed up when we feel nervous, so be aware of this tendency. Practice speaking in a slower, more deliberate way, and focus your vocal energy toward the front of your mouth. This will automatically make your speech clearer, slow you down a bit, and give you something to focus on--distracting you from your nerves or any racing thoughts.

Visual aids should supplement your speaking, not be the focus of your speaking. Eye contact and open body language help to keep the focus on you and encourages the listeners to remain engaged with you and your message.

Idiomatic or colloquial language can be confusing to diverse global teams. Be considerate and prudent about the language you use. You never want to confuse, alienate, or worse--offend your listeners.

If you are interested in learning more about this topic or to find out how Accent On Speech can help you or your team, click here to schedule a call on the calendar at the bottom of the Contact page.