And practical tips to get started
I remember vividly the first time I needed to use my recently acquired Italian language skills in a business setting. It was my week in Rome, and I was meeting with an academic who specialized in labor issues. Her research was top-notch, but not her English-language skills, so when I told her I went through an intensive, full-time, six-month Italian course, she immediately switched to it. I can still picture beads of sweat going down my forehead while I fumbled through what could barely pass as a conversation. My biggest takeaway: my conversation partner wasn’t troubled by my grammar mistakes or my accent — she simply appreciated being able to express complex ideas in her own language.
Most people who’ve been forced to work in a language other than their own know the feeling — it’s humbling yet satisfying when it works well. There are decades of research supporting the benefit of acquiring a second language. Still, I’d argue in today’s economy business leaders especially need to carve out time to pick up a new language for three reasons: it’s better for the mind, lets you build a better network, and gives you a competitive edge.
