Successful international communication

Abstract

A key concern of international businesses of today is how they can manage communication across borders, especially when using English as a lingua franca. With the massive development of international business with international supply chains, multinational teams, virtual distributed teams, international joint ventures and mergers and acquisitions access to English allows entry to the world’s Executive Club. This paper explores what successful communication in international organisations involves and offers strategies that business English and management trainers can use to improve communication in multinational teams and with clients and partners. The principles and good practice suggestions included in this paper will be helpful to teachers and trainers working with business schools and companies helping students and managers to work with international staff in their own country or abroad, providing practical tools and advice that can be put into practice in training and at work.