During a recent coaching engagement, I witnessed the struggle that executives face when transitioning to roles in new cultures. Freshly transferred to his company’s headquarters in New York, the Chilean executive shared feeling like an outsider in his new position. Despite his impressive track record and performance, he began questioning his skills and abilities to meet this new challenge. Well-intentioned feedback from his peers exacerbated his feelings of inadequacy, leading to a loss of confidence and reluctance to express his ideas. His accent became a source of paralyzing anxiety, despite his excellent command of the English language. He even considered returning to what he knew, potentially giving up the significant opportunities this promotion could mean for his future.
As an executive communication coach—and Latin American—living in the US, I have seen and experienced many similar situations. Moving to a new country is a big adjustment that can impact anyone’s confidence and perceived ability to communicate effectively. For many professionals working outside their native countries, the culture shock can be overwhelming. And having a foreign accent or speech pattern can significantly impact how they adapt and succeed in a new role.
Paradoxically, one of the greatest benefits of living abroad is that it helps individuals develop a clearer sense of self. An extended stay in a foreign country gives us the unique gift of seeing ourselves from the perspective of others—getting out of our heads and into the shoes of those with whom we interact. The need to understand and be understood becomes a fundamental theme because the way in which we are perceived transforms the DNA of our identity.
Effective communication is about expressing your thoughts clearly and succinctly in the specific context of your listeners. And this is not exclusive to native speakers of any language.
Good communication always translates to connecting with your audience, understanding their needs and perspectives, and conveying your message in a way that resonates with them.
At Decker Communications, we believe in owning who you are and making those unique qualities your superpower. Through the use of video, we help foreign-born executives see and understand how they are perceived and arm them with the tools to project greater confidence and clarity. We work with numerous professionals who maneuver speaking a second language, many of whom believe their capacity and skill might be misjudged because of a non-native inflection in their speech.
Next time you feel your accent is getting in the way of being an effective communicator, stop feeding the wolf… Start by shifting the focus toward your audience and away from yourself. With specific coaching techniques—such as pausing, controlled pace, vocal variety, and listener-focused content—you can be confident that your messages will always be clear and influential.