27 November 2007
Parlez-vous English?Research shows that Brits are lingo-shy when it comes to business.
Some 96% of British business executives are dependant on the other party being able to speak English when carrying out business abroad, a survey has revealed.
This is despite the fact that more Brits are travelling overseas for business than ever before. The research, carried out by executive communication consultancy, The Aziz Corporation, demonstrates how Britons find it difficult to understand the business culture abroad.
Language issue
Of the 205 senior managers and directors of major UK-based companies
that were surveyed, 82% said that they often enter into business with people from other cultures and 66% regularly make foreign trips for business purposes.
In terms of speaking a foreign language, only 21% of those surveyed were capable of this. But the fact that English remains a universally understood language shouldn't make us lazy warns Professor Khalid Aziz, chairman of the Aziz Corporation.
"Just because people in other cultures are able to speak to us in English, doesn't mean that we can rest on our laurels assuming that there's no more to be done or that our well-meaning nature will get us through," says Aziz.
The fact that top level executives aren't sure how to behave when doing business overseas is very worrying for British business.
Cultural etiquette
So, can we make up for our lack of language know-how with finesse in cultural etiquette?
Nearly 97% of executives surveyed feel that Britons should make an effort to learn the business etiquette of other countries and 96% believe that this knowledge would make business proceedings more successful.
But 68% of those surveyed are embarrassed at their lack of cultural awareness and over half admit to feeling daunted at the prospect of doing business in countries such as the Middle East or Japan where the culture is significantly different to our own.
"The fact that top level executives aren't sure how to behave when doing business overseas is very worrying for British business," says Aziz.
The fear factor
Brits are renowned for being awkwardly self-conscious and with 23% of those surveyed admitting to having bungled their foreign etiquette in the past, it's not really surprising that there's a preference not to risk it by staying in a comfort zone.
But this could have serious economic implications, says Aziz, "If we're to maintain our position as a leading player in the global economy, we simply can't afford to be dropping the classic British clanger left, right and center."
Have your say
Do you embrace the culture and language of business communities other than your own? Have you learnt a language to improve business relations? Discuss this and other issues with your communication peers by joining the Internal Comms Hub members' group on the Communicators' Network.