My secret work weapon: Learn the basics in other languages to break the ice

It's always amazed me how far it gets you and how it adds to your brand memory.

The positive surprise you generate by being able to communicate in people's language, albeit briefly and imperfectly, adds a lot of value to your personal brand and that of your company.

It's easy to get carried away in the UK with the notion that all the world now speaks English, but it's simply untrue - and even those who do have often learned American English and find Brits hard to understand.

For us to have the humility to say 'I hope you've understood and that's kind of it,' and for you to then proceed in English that has a chance of being understood, or being armed with the right level of interpreter, shows you've gone to the trouble to want to communicate.

This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk