How business English training improves hybrid/remote work

After widespread adoption at the start of the decade, lots of high profile business leaders have levelled criticism at companies who have continued to offer hybrid or remote working options to their employees.

But they’re on the wrong side of history, because the results are in – and it’s a win for remote and hybrid.

In a recent study, Stanford researchers proved that allowing employees to work from home just two days a week positively impacts productivity, performance and retention. Remote and hybrid workplaces offer flexibility, freedom and a better work-life balance for employees.

Distributed teams come with challenges though, especially when they’re from different linguistic backgrounds.

Miscommunications can hurt efficiency, productivity and organisational reputation, so it’s essential to invest in business English training for diverse teams. Beyond risk mitigation, this supports employee retention and engagement by reducing frustrations and allowing everyone to contribute on an equal footing.

In this blog post, we’ll look at the challenges of remote and hybrid working, and how English language training helps overcome them.

Communication challenges with hybrid and remote working

Hybrid and remote working models bring many benefits for organisations and employers. However, to make it work, you need watertight processes and systems in place – including communication.

In an in-person environment where employees sit near each other, it’s easy to tap someone on the shoulder to quickly and efficiently clarify something. Along with breakroom or ‘watercooler’ chats, casual face-to-face conversations like these also help build the rapport and empathy necessary for great teamwork.

However, when most exchanges happen through screens or Slack threads, there’s more potential for confusion and delays. Without the clues of body language, tone or context, a single ambiguous email or a misunderstood comment in a call can ripple across teams, causing delays, duplicated work, missed deadlines or even missed opportunities.

When team members have different English levels, it’s even easier for this to happen. Language barriers and cultural differences can lead to things getting ‘lost in translation’, causing confusion, conflict and even disengagement and demotivation. Employees who struggle with English may also try to avoid meetings or spend a lot of time writing and rewriting messages, affecting efficiency, productivity and teambuilding.

With this in mind, English training isn’t a ‘nice-to-have’ – it’s a necessity for all team members to feel confident, connected and empowered to contribute.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at how.

How business English training helps

Business English training benefits your teams in three main ways:

More efficient asynchronous communication

Effective asynchronous communication is the glue that holds dispersed teams together, especially if they’re in different time zones. People can respond to messages and comments on their own schedule, freeing them up to focus on work rather than being distracted by constant notifications.

Async teams lean heavily on written communications across channels like Slack, email, Google Docs or project management tools. English training lets them express themselves with clarity and nuance, helping to keep everyone on the same page. Whether it’s updating a shared spreadsheet, leaving editor comments in Google Docs or responding to client emails, improving English skills empowers them to write clear, concise and persuasive communications.

Here’s why it matters:

• Increased efficiency and productivity: Well-written messages are easier to understand and act on, meaning less back-and-forth and fewer delays.
• Inclusivity and engagement: Asynchronous channels level the playing field for those who are less comfortable in live meetings, empowering introverts and non-native speakers to contribute equally.

For this reason, our English Online programmes target written business communication skills like online business English, presentations or writing modern business documents. And when your people do need to meet, they’ll be better equipped to follow up with clear summaries and effective minutes.

Better meetings

Sometimes, nothing beats actually seeing and talking to people, even if it is in 2D.

Whether it’s a regular catch-up or an ad-hoc brainstorming, live conversations help remote and hybrid colleagues stay connected and focused on shared goals. Video calls are also essential for team-building activities, which help combat isolation and strengthen bonds and company culture.

However, when you’re on a video call, especially with larger groups, all those subtle visual cues – body language, eye contact or even side conversations – become harder to spot or interpret. This makes clear, confident verbal communication even more important in any language.

That’s why our courses also cover English for meetings, including all the grammar, vocabulary and practical skills modern employees need. From debating to giving presentations to asking for clarification, we’ll give them the language and skills to structure their ideas, articulate feedback and lead discussions with confidence.

See our recent blog post for more on how English training can help your team run more effective international meetings.

Soft skills

These days, technical expertise will only get you so far. So-called ‘soft’ skills like leadership, negotiating or stakeholder engagement are what transform competent professionals into truly valued team members. And effective communication is the bedrock of many of those skills.

That’s why, rather than just teaching textbook English, we empower students to express themselves with clarity, empathy and confidence, so they feel comfortable in their ability to address everyone professionally, from office buddies to difficult clients.

Business English training: Stay one step ahead of the pack

Remote and hybrid working is here to stay, but it comes with challenges. Business English training gives your teams the language and skills they need to navigate complex, cross-cultural business interactions confidently, whether it’s asynchronous in writing or live on a call.

Just be sure to make online learning accessible to everyone by choosing a flexible, adaptable programme like English Online. A range of options – including live classes and self-study – plus accessible content that works for everyone will help you create a learning environment people want to be part of.

Find out more about business English training for your organisation. Contact us.