Some people describe perceived language barrier as “limited language proficiency”, which is an ethnocentric misnomer that falters at building enduring capacity at work. As a PMP® sociolinguist, I recommend leaders consider 3 questions:
- How does language intersect with culture? Verbal may not be the most culturally congruent style for your team.
- What’s the lingua franca? Don’t assume it should be your language.
- How much does the employee speak, comprehend, read, and write? Bilingual professionals usually “distribute” their linguistic strengths on a continuum (may not be an equal spread).
