How Foreign Accents Can Impact Business Results

Foreign accents make a bigger (and more negative) impact than previously thought, new research from the University of Chicago shows.  A recent study proves that listeners subconsciously mistrust messages received from people with foreign accents–and the mistrust grows with heavier accents.

So what does this mean for those of us working globally? If we end up negotiating in another language, will our messages be mistrusted?

Solutions include (1) working with a native speaker to coach you in reducing your accent, (2) bringing a native speaker to the meetings as a fellow negotiator or interpreter, (3) and building personal relationships (and with the other parties before business begins.  Trust and credibility built in advance may outweigh such subconscious mistrust.

Yet another reason to build powerful business relationships across cultures.