Today, encountering diverse languages and cultures in the workplace is common, if not the norm. Effective workplace communication is crucial. However, cultural misunderstandings and language barriers can hinder connections, impacting productivity and inclusivity. To truly foster an inclusive workplace, organizations should embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices by providing cultural competency and inclusion practices and comprehensive language support. These initiatives not only enhance communication across diverse teams but also create an environment where every employee feels genuinely valued and included, driving both personal and organizational growth.

Progressive organizations that adopt innovative approaches to overcome cultural barriers and promote meaningful communication typically experience increased productivity and are able to foster a more culturally inclusive and supportive work environment. Research shows that bridging communication gaps has numerous benefits for everyone.

A Forbes study found that a diverse and inclusive workplace is a significant driver of innovation and growth.

Sharon Melamed, director at Matchboard, is fluent in five languages, has worked in five countries, and is an accredited translator in Japanese and German. Having experienced firsthand the significance of overcoming language barriers in the workplace, she strongly advocates for implementing practices that ensure inclusivity and amplify all voices within an organization.

Research from McKinsey, shows that inclusive companies are 1.7 times more likely to be innovation leaders in their market. Multicultural organizations are also 35 percent more likely to perform better financially than the industry average.

And a Forrester study discovered that sales teams with strong DEI practices have a 54 percent lead-to-opportunity conversion rate, compared to 26 percent for those with lagging or no DEI initiatives.

How do you navigate intercultural environments?

Here are some best practices for overcoming cultural and language barriers to help transform your workplace:

1. Share your personal story and workstyle and show interest in others to build trust and strong relationships. Communicate your cultural values at work, you may find some important behavioral similarities and differences to explore.

2. Use the right words: When speaking, keep it simple, understandable, and to the point. Avoid jargon, slang, and words with double meanings.

3. Learn some keywords in your colleagues’ native language: Learn some basic greetings, words of encouragement, and gratitude in their language.

4. Translating documents: Translating key documents into employees’ native languages helps everyone better understand complex tasks and instructions. Translating key documents into the top three to five languages may be beneficial for large businesses with international offices.

So, what are you waiting for? Start introducing inclusive behaviors to your teams today. Language, culture, and inclusion training can elevate your company's performance to the fullest.

Ready to improve your workplace with cultural best practices? Click here.