Expanding your business overseas can be very challenging. You have to put a lot of efforts into impressing foreign customers. There should be a strong reason why they must rely on your product. In such critical times, your soft skills will determine your progress. To enhance customer relations, communication will also play a major role. In this case, you have to be proficient in spoken English. Because you would express yourself better using English. English communication would help you to break the culture and language bars. You can also build a huge network in the foreign market.
So, in this article, we are going to talk about the importance of English in a global market. We would also know the soft skills necessary to deal with foreign customers.
Importance of English in global business-
Presently, 2 billion students of the world are learning English as their second language. By studying this universal language, they are preparing themselves for global job opportunities. And why not, many business giants have adopted English as their official language. English has facilitated the outsourcing of jobs to developing countries. As a result, these companies managed to gain a global taskforce. They also expanded their market and dominance in a widespread market. English is being widely used in the institutions of 75 countries. This universal language is helping international employees to collaborate with each other. The language is allowing the exchange of ideas and innovations from multinational creators. English is also a great medium for digital marketing over the internet. A diverse group of customers are getting introduced with the products through English ads.
Can we bridge by using English?
In an international business set up, meeting with foreign clients would be a daily activity for you. These events are the perfect opportunity to consolidate your client relationships. Here, you also have the chance to promote your products face to face. Be it a meeting or an industrial tradeshow, you will be representing your company at a global level. And the audience will be expecting you to convey in English. Being a non- native, you will be highly appreciated for great English communication skills. Your clients will perceive you as a true professional. Your fluency and English accuracy will award you the image of a talented businessman.
So, here we present some tips to get the most out of the situation:-
- Have a clear accent or communication style-
As we know, foreigners are familiar with their native English accent. Hailing from a non-English country, it might be difficult for you to master the exact style. But learning it a bit can be highly advantageous for you. Also, take care of your pronunciations. Select your English words and phrases intelligently. This would save you from getting misinterpreted by your foreign audience. Talk slowly to make every sentence clear. Keep calm and elaborate everything so that your client comprehends the accurate message.
- Make a presentation-
It is a famous saying that pictures depict better than words. So, to assist your speech have a PowerPoint presentation at your side. Take the help of graphics to make things interesting and appealing. Remember your goal is to be understood. So, outline every point and describe them in simple terms. Refrain from using slangs. Speak politely and be humble. It is also necessary that you add humour to entertain the audience.
- Know about the local culture-
To gain the trust of a foreign customer, you should be respectful to the local customs and traditions. After stepping into a foreign land, communicate with the people there. Learn the typical differences in the work-life. Try to adapt to the new environment and co-workers. This way you will be able to bridge the cultural and language gap with the clients.
As of now, we have learnt the link between sharp verbal English and foreign client satisfaction. Let us quickly know about other essential skills required at this level.
- Interpersonal influence
This soft skill helps you in persuading the people you meet. If you are an influential business leader, you will succeed in convincing international investors to spend in your business. You will be able to collaborate with foreign stakeholders. Pitching a sale or holding a negotiation will become easier for you. This skill is a combined result of nice communication skills and confidence. It demands appropriate voice modulations, eye contact, hand movements and slow talk to impress the client. Here you display an assertive attitude rather than being an aggressive man.
- Emotional intelligence
Being emotionally intelligent means you have good control over your emotions. And you never lose your calm while dealing with customer problems.
If you are hoping to improve the consumer satisfaction service, you should foster empathy. This helps you to get into the shoes of your customer. Empathy enables you to connect with your clients at an emotional level. You should be supportive and make them comfortable during the meeting. If they have any issues, you should offer them solutions and assistance. This way your client gains trust upon you. Empathetic behaviour will definitely win their heart. Gradually, they will be interested to extend relations with you.
- Resilience
International business is an exception to the conventional 9 to 5 job. Because you will be communicating with clients from a range of time zones. Piles of workload will be demanding focussed attention from you. In such tough hours, you will survive f you are resilient. The skill of resilience aims to face the work challenges boldly. The skill is very much necessary. Because you have to cut down frustration arising from long hours of client meetups.
Conclusion
Summarising the whole article, we will recommend the following points-
- Be fluent in spoken and written English. It improves your relations with international clients.
- Good English builds your image in conferences and convocations.
- Along with communication skills, you have to inculcate empathy, resilience and interpersonal influence.
Delve deeper into the content to learn the techniques of satisfying your foreign clients. Make a habit of practising the above-mentioned skills to achieve excellence in global business.
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SOFT SKILL AND ENGLISH IN HANDLING A CLIENT ABROAD
Soft skills, primarily called as People skills or Interpersonal skill play effective role in handling clients abroad. It is necessary for every professional being to be progressive and enthusiastic in their career building. These so called soft skills will be like adding cream to the cake. And of course, it takes a little effort to prevail them with full conviction.
EFFECTIVE VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
Communication aids as the primary source of expressing thoughts and ideas. It is important for us to know whether we deliver the thing exactly that we need to. Because there are chances that lack of communication leading to many crises. Handling foreign clients could be our cup of tea if we build a good communication among them. Be more clear and concerned with words.
EFFECTIVE NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION:
Communication can happen verbally and non-verbally. Importantly, way of expressions should be noted. Non-Verbal cues help many times in delivering thoughts perfectly. Even a small cue could be a healthy communication. It is necessary to be aware of our simple cues too.
GOOD BEHAVIOUR:
BEHAVIOUR BUILDS GOOD PERSONA:
Behaviour stands as the most important Soft skill. It only takes few minutes to build ones impact through behavior. So we should mind good and positive behaviors with clients that could give them a optimistic impression in our career.
BODY LANGUAGE:
It is exciting how Body language cues oneself. Even a simple nod can speak more. Many times our minds can be delivered with our body language. It transparently views our piece of mind at pitch. Always be mindful that you deal clients with a pleasant body language that makes both comfort.
BEING AN ACTIVE LISTENER:
Not only speaking, but also listening makes you an effective communicator. Active listeners possess more cognition than active speakers. Our communicative skills does not count the number of words we give out, but how effective and meaningful each words are. Active listeners give out more solutions as they are driven by their client needs.
RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT:
The most dominant soft skill is to have a robust relationship with clients. Not everyone is concerned to build a healthy bond with clients. But it is important to have it inorder to make career more compatible.
COMMUNIACTING WITH CLEAR WORDS:
Soft skill majorly roles over communication. Again the usage of word is highlighted here. While dealing with foreign clients, we will have lights over us when we give them polished words than a detailed summary. We must also be concerned if it is delivered as well as received in a proper way hence that can lead to miscommunication.
PITCH:
More concern is to be given to the pitch what we need to present. Be very conscious about the things to be highlighted and focused criteria.
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE:
Emotional intelligent simply means how we manage our emotions to emphatize with the clients. Self management aids as the primary source of buiding our self esteem in career development. Managing foreign clients will be much predonimant with proper emotional intelligence.
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