There are over 7000 languages spoken around the world. Since language access is essential in today’s business world, you need to know the best way to ensure that your employees and customers can communicate effectively. So how does your business work with so many different languages and cultural differences?
Sounds impossible, right? It isn’t. There are some practical ways you can go about managing this task. Here’s what you need to know.
Read on to learn more.
Encourage Multilingualism
Make an effort to encourage multilingualism in your business for your employees and customers. You can do this in several ways, such as providing multilingual customer service, translating essential documents, and offering language courses or classes. By providing language accessibility, you will make your business more accessible to a broader range of people and show your commitment to promoting multilingualism.
Train Your Employees
Training will help your employees better communicate with customers who may have limited English proficiency. This can be done by providing employees with a list of common phrases in other languages and practicing role-playing scenarios.
Additionally, ensure that employees know how to use phone interpretation services if needed so that your customers will have a better experience and that your employees will be able to serve them better.
Provide Written Materials in Multiple Languages
Ensure better language access for your customers and employees with the following pointers. First, make sure to use clear and concise language in all of your materials. Avoid jargon or acronyms that could confuse those reading in a different language.
Second, provide a glossary of terms for any industry-specific language to help readers understand the concepts you are discussing. Finally, be aware of cultural differences that could impact the way your materials are interpreted. For example, specific colors may have different meanings in different cultures.
Consider Audio and Video Translation
Consider audio and video translation services to better serve your customers who may not speak English as their first language. This way, they can hear and see the translation in real-time, making it easier to follow along. Use high-quality audio and video equipment to ensure the best possible translation.
Hire a Language Access Coordinator
You should consider hiring a language access coordinator. This individual will be responsible for developing and implementing language access policies and procedures and monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies.
Additionally, the coordinator will be responsible for training staff to provide language services and handle customer complaints properly. By hiring a language access coordinator, you can be confident that your business is taking the necessary steps to offer equitable language access for all.
Inclusiveness Matters
One way to ensure that your business accommodates all customers is by making sure you have language access. This can be done in several ways, such as providing translation services or offering bilingual staff members. By following these tips, you can ensure that your business is inclusive and accessible to everyone.
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