5 reasons why your language skills are essential for your career.
We should not have to convince you of the importance of your language skills in business. But what seems obvious to us is perhaps something you have not yet considered.
Are you wondering what the impact of strong language skills can be on your business or your career? We give you 5 important arguments.
1. Work beyond boundaries
Thanks to digitalisation and globalisation the country and language borders for your business can fade fast. It would be a pity, however, if you had to miss out on opportunities because you do not speak the language of a customer!
"The limits of my language mean the limits of my world." Ludwig Wittgenstein expresses it perfectly: your language skills determine the limits of what you can achieve. With Squidll we help you remove those limits and take you where you want to go!
2. Make your first impression count
Making a good first impression is crucial. When you get a golden opportunity with an international customer, you want to radiate confidence. This way the customer will also have confidence in you and your product or service. However, with weaker language skills it is difficult to sell yourself with as much impact as in your native language. You might miss the nuances that make the difference.
Our business language coaches can help you with this. On Squidll you choose your own language coach based on their expertise in certain domains or topics. This helps you can focus your one-on-one session on what you need to make that strong first impression!
3. Break the ice with social talk
Introducing yourself or your product in another language is something you can learn quickly. This information comes naturally to you. But you want to avoid coming across as too business-like because you only focus on your business. Social talk is an important part of building relationships with your customer. It helps you connect with them.
So if you want to build a real, authentic relationship, you also need to grow in informal communication. Our business language coaches can help you with that too. With the right tips and tricks, you will feel a lot more confident about striking up a conversation with your next customer, and building that connection further.
4. Argue your case with power
One of the biggest challenges when you are less proficient in a language is finding the right words when faced with opposition. In your own mother tongue you can immediately come up with a series of strong arguments, but in another language this is often more difficult and you lose your strength.
With the right guidance, your language coach can give you the boost you need to be strong when faced with critical questions or a tough discussion. Not only will your arguments become stronger but your self-confidence will also receive a boost.
5. Focus on more than language
Knowledge of a language goes beyond the mere application of that language. If you really want to approach your customers in a personal manner, you must also know their local customs. This shows that you respect cultural differences and that you make the effort to adapt.
Americans are much more informal than other cultures. The French are much more formal. Your language coach can also discuss key cultural differences with you.
It is clear: well-maintained language skills help you communicate fluently in the language of your client. They also strengthen your credibility as a business partner. Moreover, a strong command of the language boosts your self-confidence and also ensures that you can build deeper relationships with your clients because you always understand them, and they understand you.
Convinced? Create an account, find a business language coach who fits your needs and start today on Squidll.