Why your performance management strategy needs language learning

Samantha Ball
Two business people both looking at a computer screen, gesturing and smiling.

The modern workplace is constantly evolving and undergoing a paradigm shift in performance management. The focus is now on fostering a culture of continuous learning and development, rather than merely holding employees accountable. It is particularly important to prioritize this shift when it comes to enhancing language and communication skills within your team.

It is important to connect performance management with language learning goals, as English skills are highly valued by both employees and businesses.

Performance management strategies and language learning
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree ɫèAV can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Get in touch to find out how we can support your organization's language needs

Identifying a gap

So, you have identified a lack of English language proficiency within your team, and want to implement a performance management plan for the professional development of your staff.?Now let¡¯s look at how you can use your performance management system to effectively address this gap and support employees in their career advancement.

1. Map individual learning goals to business needs

It is important to understand your business's needs and aims before setting language learning goals. You need to determine whether you want to improve skills like technical written English for documents, spoken English for customer service, or prepare your team for a new market.

By aligning individual language learning goals with business priorities, your performance management plan becomes a strategic tool that benefits both employees and the overall business.

Example: Make your customer service more effective by improving the team¡¯s spoken English.

2. Understand employees' language learning needs

To get an idea about your team's current language proficiency and personal preferences, you can conduct surveys and individual interviews. By gathering information about their confidence levels, preferred learning styles, and objectives, you can create a customized language learning plan that motivates them to achieve their goals. This approach ensures that your team members actively participate in shaping their language development. One way to evaluate language proficiency is by using assessments such as Versant tests.

Example: Build your employees¡¯ confidence when doing workplace tasks, such as presenting in English, by expanding their business English vocabulary.

3. Fair performance management

An effective performance management system is crucial for achieving success in any organization. It is essential that managers possess the necessary tools and expertise to provide unbiased appraisals. In the context of language learning, this means ensuring that all employees have equal access to opportunities for developing their Workplace English skills.

A positive and supportive work culture encourages managers to conduct appraisals that contribute to the growth and development of all team members.

Example: Offer Business English skills development to every employee.

4. Regularly monitor progress

Language skills require consistent practice, making continuous feedback essential. Conduct baseline skill assessments using tools like Versant by ɫèAV and complement them with interactive language learning platforms like Mondly by ɫèAV. Establish a continuous feedback loop to monitor progress and set realistic goals for employees, using each performance review as an opportunity to review and refine language learning objectives.

Example: Improve your team¡¯s language retention with daily practice in the Mondly by ɫèAV app.

Workplace language program checklist

Use this checklist to ensure that progress is being measured effectively and that the corporate language program is suited to the business and your employees¡¯ language needs.

  1. Are individual language learning goals aligned with business priorities?
  2. Do managers feel equipped and supported to deliver fair and effective appraisals?
  3. Is suitable and progressive learning technology in place to support the learning process?
  4. Is progress monitored and assessed all year round?

Integrating language learning into your performance management system is a strategic investment. It benefits both your employees' development and the success of your business. By aligning individual goals with business needs, understanding your team's preferences, ensuring fairness in appraisals, and maintaining continuous monitoring, you can create a performance management system. This system addresses language skills gaps and also fosters a culture of perpetual learning and improvement.

Not sure where to start for your organization? ɫèAV offers language learning solutions for work to help boost your employee's language skills.

Want to learn more? Read the long-form article for more or explore our language learning and assessment tools for businesses.

You might also be interested in our post 'Language proficiency and succession planning: Developing future leaders'

ɫèAV Language learning solutions for Work

More blogs from ɫèAV

  • A student writingon a paper with other students doing the same in the background

    More commonly misspelled English words

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Spelling can often feel like navigating a maze. But fear not, for you are not alone in this quest. Whether you're a fluent speaker or learning English as a second language, the challenge of spelling is universal.

    Yet, just as heroes rise to conquer their foes, you too can triumph over misspelled words. With dedication and the right tools, you'll soon find yourself spelling with confidence and ease. Carrying on from our previous post, 'The most commonly misspelled words in English', let's explore more commonly misspelled words and empower ourselves with the knowledge to spell them correctly.

  • Two friends outside laughing together

    Exploring unusual and funny English sayings

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    It's April Fool's Day today and we¡¯re diving into the lighter side of the English language. English is full of quirky sayings and odd words that can leave you scratching your head or laughing out loud. So enjoy this collection of funny English sayings and words that are sure to bring a smile to your face and probably make you question whether this is an April Fool¡¯s Day joke.

    1. Bob¡¯s your uncle

    Let¡¯s start with a classic British saying: ¡°Bob¡¯s your uncle.¡± This phrase is used to indicate that something will be simple or straightforward. For example, ¡°Just add water, and Bob¡¯s your uncle¡±. But who is Bob, and why is he your uncle? The origins are unclear, but it¡¯s a fun way to say, ¡°And there you have it¡±.

    2. The bee¡¯s knees

    When something is the ¡°bee¡¯s knees,¡± it means it¡¯s excellent or of high quality. But why the knees of a bee? This saying likely originated in the 1920s as part of a trend of using animal anatomy in slang. Other similar phrases include ¡°the cat¡¯s pajamas¡± and ¡°the snake¡¯s hips¡±.

    3. More holes than Swiss cheese

    If something has ¡°more holes than Swiss cheese,¡± it means it¡¯s full of flaws or problems. This saying is self-explanatory if you¡¯ve ever seen a slice of Swiss cheese. It¡¯s a humorous way to point out that something isn¡¯t quite up to par.

    4. Bamboozle

    To ¡°bamboozle¡± someone means to trick or confuse them. This word itself sounds like a bit of a trick, doesn¡¯t it? It¡¯s believed to have originated in the 17th century, and it¡¯s a perfect word to use on April Fool's Day when you¡¯re pulling pranks on your friends.

    5. Fuddy-duddy

    A ¡°fuddy-duddy¡± is someone who is old-fashioned or fussy. This term is often used affectionately to describe someone who is a bit behind the times. It¡¯s a funny-sounding word that¡¯s sure to bring a smile to your face.

    6. Gobbledygook

    ¡°Gobbledygook¡± refers to language that is meaningless or hard to understand, often used to describe overly complex jargon. It was coined during World War II by a Texas congressman who compared confusing bureaucratic language to the sound of a turkey¡¯s gobble. It¡¯s a perfect word for describing those moments when someone is talking but you have no idea what they¡¯re saying.

    7. Mad as a hatter

    If someone is ¡°mad as a hatter,¡± they¡¯re completely crazy. This saying dates back to the 19th century when hat makers (hatters) often suffered from mercury poisoning due to the chemicals used in hat production, leading to erratic behavior. It¡¯s a whimsical way to describe someone who¡¯s a bit off their rocker.

    8. Raining cats and dogs

    When it¡¯s ¡°raining cats and dogs¡±, it¡¯s raining very heavily. The origins of this saying are unclear, but it¡¯s a vivid and amusing way to describe a downpour. Just imagine cats and dogs falling from the sky!

    9. Lollygag

    To ¡°lollygag¡± means to dawdle or waste time. It¡¯s a playful word that perfectly captures the essence of goofing off. So, if you find yourself procrastinating today, just tell everyone you¡¯re lollygagging.

    10. The whole shebang

    ¡°The whole shebang¡± means everything or the entire thing. The origins of ¡°shebang¡± are uncertain, but it¡¯s a fun and quirky way to refer to the entirety of something. Whether you¡¯re talking about a project, a meal or a party, this phrase adds a bit of flair.

    11. Cat got your tongue?

    When someone is unusually quiet or at a loss for words, you might ask ¡°Cat got your tongue?¡± This odd saying dates back to the 19th century and is a humorous way to prompt someone to speak up.

    12. As cool as a cucumber

    If someone is ¡°as cool as a cucumber,¡± they¡¯re very calm and composed, even in stressful situations. This saying is amusing because it compares a person¡¯s demeanor to a vegetable known for its refreshing coolness. It¡¯s a fun way to compliment someone¡¯s ability to stay unruffled.

    How many unusual English sayings do you know?

    English is a wonderfully weird language, full of sayings and words that can leave us amused and bewildered. On this April Fool's Day, we hope you¡¯ve enjoyed this lighthearted look at some of the funniest expressions English has to offer. So go ahead, sprinkle these sayings into your conversations, and share a laugh with your friends. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and today is the perfect day to embrace the humor in our language.

  • Two friends sat together on a sofa drinking hot drinks and smiling

    7 essential phrases for easier conversations in English

    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Engaging in conversations, especially in a language that isn't your first, can sometimes be daunting. Whether English isn¡¯t your first language or you¡¯re just looking to improve your conversational skills, having a few handy phrases up your sleeve can make a world of difference. Here are seven essential phrases that can help you navigate conversations in English with greater ease and confidence.