The multilingual workforce is proving to be a great asset to any industry nowadays. We’re living in a time where business owners are no longer satisfied by keeping their companies local, but instead are constantly looking for new opportunities to grow and reach as many people as possible. In most cases, this means taking their business abroad targeting completely different cultures.
As a result, the multilingual employee has become quite the modern hero. Simply expanding your business abroad and expecting everyone to speak English would be a reckless behavior. You’ll need to do your research, and you’ll need to prepare properly. And getting accustomed to a new culture and adjusting your strategies according to it is no easy job. You will benefit from hiring multilingual employees.
If you don’t believe us, here are a few reasons to convince you.
- They Can Double as Translators
When you make the first steps towards doing business abroad, the first thing you will probably think of is translators. Spare yourself of having to worry whether or not you’ve hired the right person for the job. With multilingual employees, you can rely on them for this part, as well.
As long as they have a clear job description and are compensated for their extra efforts, you can save precious time and money by having multi lingual employees double as translators. You never know when you’ll find yourself in the situation of needing someone to take a quick look at a contract or some correspondence. Give yourself the luxury of having that second set of eyes nearby.
- They Have Better Communication and Listening Skills
It is already a known fact that multilingual brains work differently from monolingual ones. People that know two or more languages experience improved attention, as well as better verbal and spatial skills. Their brains are structurally different and can process a larger quantity of information.
Learning a new language is essentially just like any other brain stimulating activity. That’s why multilingual people have the ability to better conceptualize and think analytically, along with an incredible working memory. Simply put, they are the perfect employees for any business.
- They Can Inspire You
Ok, so maybe you’re not planning on jumping on the globalization train yet. However, hiring multi lingual employees can give you a taste of what it would feel like to just do it. They could simply serve as inspiration and as a starting point for the what ifs. Or they could offer you the feeling that they’ve got your back if you decide to start expanding.
- They Are Excellent Multitaskers
This one shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. If employees can switch between languages without batting an eye, then it’s pretty clear their level of multitasking is also high. And while there is still some controversy over how good multitasking at work actually is, it is nevertheless a sign that they will perform better and faster than the average employee. And as long as they do their jobs well, who are you to tell them they should stop multitasking?
Multilingualism will become a crucial skill of employees in this era of globalization that pushes us to promote our businesses all over the world. There will be many communication and cultural gaps you’ll need to put a bridge over, so the best way to get at it is to start recruiting people that not only know the language but are also capable of understanding the fine nuances of that particular culture. You can’t resume to English-only business anymore, so start recruiting those employees.
