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How to run more effective international meetings in English
From team updates to client negotiations, international meetings are essential for any global business to operate. And English is often the default language for business communication – even when nobody present speaks English as their first language.
If meeting participants aren’t fluent, however, it can lead to misunderstandings and missed opportunities. So training your team in English for business meetings allows people from different backgrounds to collaborate more effectively and make progress.
In this article, we’ll look at common challenges with meeting communication, the benefits of corporate English training, and how to go about it.
Let’s get started.
Common challenges with international meeting communication
From complex phrases to cultural misunderstandings, these issues can prevent international meetings from flowing smoothly.
Mismatched abilities and lack of shared language
When people have varying levels of English fluency, conveying and understanding even simple ideas can be difficult. This is made worse when some people can confidently use idioms, expressions or industry jargon, leaving others feeling confused or excluded.
Overall, this affects decision-making, efficiency and productivity – during and after the meeting. Worse, it can lead to people disengaging or failing to contribute, meaning you might be missing out on the next big idea.
Cultural differences
Expectations for how to contribute, take turns, ask for clarification, etc. vary widely between cultures. For example, what’s considered efficient communication in one culture might be perceived as too direct or abrupt in another. These differences can result in further misunderstandings, confusion, reluctance to participate and even offence and negative perceptions.
Fortunately, English training can help overcome these challenges.
What are the benefits of training in English for business meetings?
When your team feels confident in English, everything changes. Here’s how.
- Greater clarity and fewer misunderstandings
Training for business English meetings equips your team with the necessary vocabulary, grammar and communication skills to express themselves clearly and concisely. This lets them convey ideas and instructions and ask relevant questions, helping keep everyone aligned. This is especially important when discussions involve complex subjects or important decisions – when you can’t afford to get it wrong.
Good English training should also cover cultural nuances and communication styles, helping reduce cultural misunderstandings.
- More productive, effective meetings and teamwork
Fewer misunderstandings mean more efficient decision-making, problem-solving, collaboration and task execution, which is good for productivity.
- Greater participation
English training creates a safe environment where learners can practise and build skills, enabling them to make mistakes without negative repercussions. As they grow in confidence, they’re more likely to actively participate in discussions, share ideas and engage.
Think of it as a golden key to unlock their full potential.
- Stronger teams and a more inclusive culture
When team members can communicate effectively with each other, it helps foster teamwork and cohesion. This leads to a more positive and collaborative work environment, boosting morale, alignment and overall organisational performance.
Also, when everyone can contribute on an equal footing, it creates a more inclusive culture, which today’s top talent values. Providing English training allows you to hire more diverse teams since you’re not limited to candidates who already speak English. And since diversity is proven to be good for business, that’s good news for you.
Learn more about building a stronger team through English language skills training.
- Improved organisational image
How something is said often carries as much weight as the content itself, influencing perceptions and shaping relationships. Good business English courses cover skills like giving presentations, helping people project a more polished, credible image. This kind of confident communication conveys professionalism, competence and a positive image of your team and organisation to partners, clients and colleagues – fostering trust and strong relationships.
How to improve meeting communication with English training
Now you know the benefits of corporate English training, let’s look at how to put it into practice.
Tailor training to real business contexts and needs
Effective programmes like English Online use authentic business materials like emails, reports, meeting minutes, etc. This exposes learners to the language and tasks they’ll encounter in their roles.
Activities like roleplay also let students experience and resolve communication challenges in a safe environment. This helps them develop the vocabulary, fluency and problem-solving skills needed to participate actively in real-life discussions with confidence.
Focus on specialist vocabulary and industry terminology
Each industry has its own set of acronyms, technical terms and jargon. Experienced instructors should tailor teaching to your sector, helping your teams master the precise language needed for their work.
Practise active listening and clarification strategies
Meetings can go off track if participants don’t fully understand what’s being discussed, or if miscommunication is left unaddressed. Practising active listening and useful phrases to ask for clarification helps avoid misunderstandings and keeps people focused.
Emphasise cultural and digital communication skills
International meetings require people to be sensitive to cultural norms and (for virtual meetings) the unique etiquette of digital communication. Look for course providers that teach skills like meeting etiquette, turn-taking and (politely) interrupting to empower your teams. Depending on where your teams are from, you may also want to focus on global English rather than US or UK variants, which makes communication easier for everyone.
Don’t forget to develop all four skills
We recognise that meetings aren’t just about talking, so as well as teaching best practices for debating, our courses cover things like written communication and presentation techniques. This empowers participants to structure, express and deliver information clearly, helping them make a positive impact in both virtual and in-person meetings.
And by focusing on reading and writing skills, they’ll be able to write and understand effective meeting minutes – keeping everyone on track once the meeting’s over.
Offer flexible learning options
People may not be able to commit to a fixed schedule every week, so offer flexibility and opportunities for self-study alongside classes.
Also, remember that high-ranking employees with a low level of English may not feel comfortable making mistakes in front of subordinates. That’s why our courses blend one-to-one coaching with group sessions, so everyone can work on individual challenges in the right setting for them. Our materials and methods are also suitable for different learning styles, boosting inclusivity.
Know how to measure progress
English training is an investment in your organisation’s future, so you need to be able to measure ROI. Look for providers that offer individual assessment, feedback and progress reports to gauge the effectiveness of your training – and justify it to higher-ups.
International meetings: Improve yours with English training
Running effective international meetings helps improve efficiency, productivity and build relationships. And effective meetings rely on clear, confident communication that everyone can understand.
That’s why we offer tailored online English training for businesses, institutions and governments with flexible programmes, experienced trainers and customised workshops. Our global, 24/7 timetable means our classes have a mix of learners from around the world, giving your team the opportunity to interact with an international group, under the expert guidance of our teachers.
Whatever their level, we’ll help your employees gain the skills they need to excel at meetings – and beyond.
Take the first step towards more effective team communication. Contact us for tailored training programmes or to book a demo.
