More Malaysian businesses are deciding to use English as the official language at the office. Businesses should be fluent in English in order to compete globally and increase opportunities across new and existing markets.
These are 7 ways Malaysian businesses have been upgraded by using English as their language of communication, bringing benefits to their employee, the organisation itself and even the customer.
1. Efficient Internal Communication
Our Malaysian offices are linguistic melting pots and multiple languages are used on a daily basis due to our unique mix of culture. Forward-thinking businesses have opted to get all their employees to speak a shared language, ensuring minimal miscommunication and maximum accuracy when providing and receiving instructions.
Organisations that use English as the official language experience greater productivity and enhanced teamwork across the floor. No employee is left out, confused or misunderstood due to cross-language communication.
2. Outstanding External Communication
Communication with suppliers, manufacturers and stakeholders are crucial to the running processes of any business. Being able to deliver strategic ideas and messaging accurately is equally as important as an actual product being sold.
Brands that adopt the use of English experience improvements in delivery and execution of communication between employees and strategic partners. Equipping employees with the necessary skills to communicate efficiently and professionally saves businesses hours of wasted time caused by miscommunication.
3. Improved Business Communication Skills
Equipping your employees of all levels with good business English communication skills translates to improvement in areas such as presentation skills, customer service, sales pitches and public relations. A good grasp of the English language empowers employees with confidence when communicating with customers. It also helps them tremendously when they’re required to deliver ideas or presentations during meetings.
Organisations that opt to use English report an increase in economic opportunities in the market as employees at all levels are equipped with the skills to communicate effectively with new and potential customers across the globe.
4. Improved Customer Understanding & Handling
Organisations that prioritise the use of English at the office experience improved understanding and handling of customers, on a multitude of platforms such as emails, calls and social media.
These organisations report improvements in areas such as problem solving, critical thinking, customer service and even the speed at which issues are resolved. Employees are better equipped to understand the issue faced by the customer, and are therefore able to handle and resolve situations efficiently and professionally.
5. Improved Customer Experience
Prioritising English doesn’t only improve the learning and development of your employees, its effects travel down to the end user. Customers have a better experience when interacting with your organisation when all levels of your staff are able to resolve issues that arise, efficiently and professionally.
Brands speaking fluent English are able to provide customized support to customers and resolve their issues efficiently. Employees are better able to understand the problem and remove the pain points affecting the customer quickly. Customers in turn experience quick solutions and provide positive feedback which is then used to further improve the organisation.
6. Positive Brand Perception
While distinguishing your brand in the market is a challenging feat, having positive brand perception is key when it comes to standing out. Brand effectiveness and reputation are strongly reliant on interactions with customers.
Brands that champion English know that the first point of contact between the public and an organisation, more often than not, tends to be with its employees. The value of the organisation significantly increases when its employees are able to communicate and engage effectively with the customer.
7. Higher Employee Engagement & Motivation
Employees are more engaged and motivated when they are able to communicate confidently and efficiently. When your office speaks one shared language across the floor that everyone understand, no employee ends up feeling left out or excluded due to language barriers.
Brands that choose English as the official language for their business report an increase in engagement, morale and productivity at the office. Messages, conversations, instructions and even jokes are easily shared and understood across all levels of employees.
Conclusion
The decision to encourage the use of English in the office brings great benefit to the employees, the organisation and even the customer. Efficient linguistic skills opens doors to new business opportunities, increases sales and enhances existing customer relations – all while developing your employees and improving relationships within your organisation.
A star-studded movement to upskill Malaysia
English Movement is an initiative to promote the use and learning of the English language to enhance career, business and study opportunities of all Malaysians. This star-studded movement is championed by role models such as Raj Ridvan, JD, Amber Chia, Freda Liu, Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Nabil Ahmad & Altimet. Together, they champion for all Malaysians to upskill themselves with English.
Join English Movement and upskill your staff with the language of global business.
HRDF-claimable Business English courses available.
