Addressing Language and Communication IssuesThere are many variations of English used in workplaces and communities across the country. Differences may vary regionally, with different age and gender groups, and different levels of formality. In our multicultural society, you are bound to encounter different accents and ways of speaking.
Take advantage of your mentoring relationship to address language and communications issues as they arise. This can be a sensitive and challenging area, but it is an important one.
Here are a few tips on how to address language and communication issues. You can also consult Tips for Addressing Language Issues.
Together you can
- agree from the beginning that you will address language and communication issues.
- decide on the best way to approach the topic.
 Tips
For Mentees
- Take advantage of the mentoring relationship to enhance your language and communication skills through your mentor.
- Be open to expressing yourself differently if it will help you to be better understood by others
- Monitor your own speech and listen to what you say and how you say it.
- Listen for differences in English word usage.
- Get feedback on effective business communication for the workplace.
- Always remember to ask if you don’t understand.
- Ask to be corrected and be open to constructive feedback.
- See your mentoring relationship as an opportunity to practise!
- If you, or your mentor, think you would benefit from additional language training, consult your mentoring coach for an appropriate referral.
For Mentors
- Ask for permission to make corrections and to provide constructive feedback.
- Be mindful of your mentee agreeing without understanding or being embarrassed to show that he or she has not understood.
- Monitor your own speech. Use different levels of language and paraphrase in order to enrich your mentee’s vocabulary, if required.
- Always remember to compliment your mentee on his or her communication strengths and relate them to success in the workplace.
- Be mindful of different ways English is spoken in different regions/countries and remember that different isn’t necessarily wrong. In Canada’s diverse workplaces, adjusting to different communication styles and types of English is a two-way street.
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