When Communication Is A Barrier
Many foreign-born professionals are employed in Central Massachusetts. While these professionals have an abundance of talent and technical skills, and are fluent in written English, their spoken English may be difficult to understand.
To address this issue, corporate speech pathologists offer accent modification, a systematic process that helps people modify their speech so they're more easily understood. Accent modification programs focus on the language and vocabulary used in the employees' workplace and are custom-designed to target the communication needs of each individual.
Do your employees need accent modification?
To know whether your foreign-born employees will benefit from accent modification, consider the following.
Does the employee:
• Need to frequently repeat what they've said?
• Have difficulty communicating clearly on the phone?
• Participate minimally in meetings,
or not at all?
• Have trouble presenting or defending ideas, particularly when they're under pressure?
• Face obstacles to advancement in your company due to communica- tion issues?
What can accent modification do for your company? Here are five benefits:
1. Increase productivity and revenue. When employees communicate clearly, misunderstandings are reduced, teamwork and collaboration improve, and employees maximize their efficiency and productivity.
2. Enhance client satisfaction and retention. Clients will no longer struggle to understand your employee, and will feel confident that the employee understands their needs, thereby improving brand loyalty.
3. Expand business negotiations and opportunities. Your employees can effectively communicate your company's value to your target market, thus increasing sales opportunities.
4. Improve your company's professional image. With improved communication, your employees will represent your company with confidence and power, enhancing your company's professional image.
5. Advance professional careers and improve employee retention. Employees will gain confidence in their leadership skills and communicate more effectively with peers, management and clients, positioning them for advancement. You will experience decreased training and recruiting costs due to better employee retention.
How do you approach an employee who would benefit from accent training?
Often, employees want to improve their communication skills but are embarrassed to ask for help. They do not need English as a Second Languages classes, but they may not know about accent modification.
In contrast, some employers hesitate to offer accent modification services for fear of offending an employee. Here are three suggestions to consider:
• Communicate to your employee that he or she is highly valued and the company wants to eliminate any barriers to their career advancement.
• Offer an accent modification program as part of your employee benefits package and label it as one of the following:
• A professional development opportunity;
• A tuition reimbursement program;
• Part of your employee assistance program; or
• Part of a program targeting a specific skill such as public speaking.
• Inform the employee that the goal of an accent modification program is not to eliminate a person's accent, but instead to focus on communicating more clearly and effectively.
The talents and skills of your employees are your company's most valuable resource. It makes good business sense to leverage the talent you already have. So, when it's necessary, consider the benefits of an accent modification program. n
Laura Larsen-Stevovich is the
director at Accent on Accent in Northborough. Visit her website at www.accentonaccent.com.
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