Would Excellent Spoken English Make you a Better CEO?

The 20th century was marked by the emergence of global markets and international workforces in all industries.  Even in literature, immigrants are credited with having written the best novels and poems of the era.  Consider Nabokov and Bukowski in the US or Rushdie and Ishiguro in the UK.  In a similar manner, the IT industry flourished and became the fastest growing market, attracting young professionals from all parts of the world into its national and international centers.

SEE ALSO: Five common mistakes you should avoid while speaking English

In the US, the bulk of the biggest IT names are set in Silicon Valley, California, the place that attracts international IT pros like a magnet.  Thus Silicon Valley has become home to giant tech companies and their employees from all over the world.

The title question refers to this group in particular.  How does your knowledge of spoken English actually impact your life in the US and your possibilities for professional advancement?
Several CEOs with strong accents of their native languages have managed to develop enormously successful enterprises, so one might assume the knowledge of English doesn’t actually play a role here, as long as one has a vision.  Well, not necessarily.

The CEOs we hear about are just a part of the international workforce trying to make fortunes in Silicon Valley and other part of the US.  The truth is that only a few actually succeed in this.
Could language be a problem for them in developing their businesses?

Even outside the business field, we know how important speaking skills are for success.  Excellent rhetoric, natural intonation, pleasant voice color, appropriate body language – all of these can strongly influence your interlocutor, which is why this compendium of speaking skills is important for CEOs.

When it comes to the Silicon Valley magnates, they need these skills to influence business partners or – in the case of startup companies – to solicit funds.  Most of us can only guess how much trouble they must go through when soliciting funds and negotiating with potential investors.  In such cases, no amount of excellent English can guarantee you money, but can a wealth of skill be a beneficial asset for this?
It certainly can.

The New York Times recently featured a story about David Chen, the CEO of Striking.ly, and his troubles with establishing and managing his company.  English pronunciation was definitely among them.

Judging from the Striking.ly’s success, Mr.  Chen obviously found ways to achieve his goals.  However, what if someone else was trying to convince lawyers, investors and journalists that his story is big? What if his efforts were frustrated by his inability to explain exactly what is it he intended to do?

Paul Graham of YCombinator recently made a controversial statement related to this.  In an interview for Inc. he said:

Soon, many people responded to this statement.

Graham later explained what he meant by this:

Let us know! 👂
What type of content would you like to see from us this year?

— HubSpot (@HubSpot) January 16, 2019

It is quite possible that Graham was actually referring to the lack of communication skills in general, but still, foreigners have an additional burden in this respect too.

Obviously, without an innovative idea, you’re doomed to failure in any industry.  However, even with a great one, you may face problems presenting it the proper way to the right people.

Therefore, English may not be the single crucial skill you need but it may well be a tool that will contribute significantly to bringing you to your goal.  For many future CEOs, when technical knowledge is supplemented by communication skills, the possibilities of founding a successful company are certainly higher.

Photo credit: Wikipedia, Digital Journal and Free Digital Photos