How important are languages for entrepreneurs? We live in a world where English has become the universal language for business — and where speaking a second (or third) language is a real superpower. It’s a must-have skill if you want to talk shop with other professionals and, most importantly, expand into the international market.

Plenty of professionals running their own business who want to grow beyond their own borders have hit a wall because of the language barrier. They can’t strike deals or build relationships with international peers. So the urgent — and sometimes almost miraculous — need to learn languages has become unavoidable.

At ULab we asked ourselves why knowing languages is so important for entrepreneurs and other professionals. We put together a list of reasons why it’s essential in the business and networking world. And, why not, also a bit of guidance if you’re thinking about becoming a true professional entrepreneur.

Languages for entrepreneurs: the stats don’t lie

More than 600 million people speak English as a second language. Nearly 10 million use it as their preferred language for communicating abroad. It’s the most widely spoken language in the world. One in five people speak it, and most websites and books are written in it.

Not convinced by the numbers? You should also know that English is the working language of major international organisations (United Nations, the European Free Trade Association, and many more).

Access to a much larger pool of information

Most websites, publications and news are in English. If you search a keyword in your own language and then in English, the volume of results jumps massively from one to the other.

If you use English in your own content, you’ll get a noticeable SEO boost and your business will gain visibility. You’ll reach a wider audience and unlock new professional opportunities.

Staying up to date

Being at the cutting edge of the global platforms that can help you promote your business is a huge advantage. There are thousands of platforms dedicated to spotting marketing trends — Trendwatching and Springwise are just two examples.

But what’s the catch? Most of their reports are published in the language that dominates 90% of the global business world: English. If you want to keep up with what’s happening internationally in your field and you don’t speak the language, we’re sorry to say — it’s going to be tough. That’s one of those moments when you really feel the weight of how important languages are for entrepreneurs.

International business

As we mentioned earlier, if you want to push your business beyond your home market, this knowledge is essential. Why? Because it ties directly to concepts like competitiveness, innovation, growth, openness to new business opportunities and creating the right environment for exports.

You’ll build better communication with other professionals and, honestly, you’ll finally see your business take off. When you learn a new language, it’s all upside.

Networking

We’re sure you’ve attended a business event, conference or trade fair at some point. Did you notice that most — if not all — of the attendees speak the international language of business? And we’d bet that, even without speaking English, you’ve run into an investor or fellow entrepreneur. You wanted to strike up a conversation and get them interested in your work. But there was always that “tiny” problem: you couldn’t, because of the language barrier.

That’s why speaking other languages matters so much in the business world — and in your personal life too. So you don’t miss out on those valuable opportunities at events and so you don’t cap your growth on the international stage.

With all the reasons above on the table, and to avoid the kind of fatal slip-up that can hold your career back, here’s what we suggest:

Language classes:

Taking language classes will help you not just learn the language, but also communicate in a fun and easy way. You’ll find dozens — even thousands — of courses, both online and in person.

The ideal one is a course where every class takes a practical, interactive and engaging approach. Communication comes first here. You’ll forget about mental blocks and the awkwardness of holding a business conversation with other professionals.

Workshops and activities in different languages:

Another option is workshops and activities in your target language. Here you can put into practice everything you’ve picked up in your classes — and loosen up by holding a real, flowing conversation with other people while training your ear to the language.

Interested in attending this kind of workshop but don’t know where to find them? At ULab we run events and workshops delivered entirely in different languages. Most of them are free and we host them once a month.

Translators:

We strongly recommend working with a professional translator to help adapt your content for international audiences across your online platforms. That way you’ll make sure all your communication is expressed correctly, with no grammar slip-ups, context errors or awkward syntax.

You’ll reach a much wider audience for your work, thanks to the SEO boost you’ll get from using the right keywords in each language.

So — do you still have an excuse for not growing your business, keeping solid international communication going and learning new languages as an entrepreneur in a fun and easy way? Let’s get started!