For more than a decade, Japan has invested heavily in developing what policymakers often call “global talent.” Much of the discussion has focused on English proficiency. The underlying assumption seems straightforward. Stronger English skills lead to greater success in international environments.
A recent survey of 43 young Japanese professionals who had been assigned overseas before the age of 30 offers a different perspective.
When asked which competencies were most important for success as a global professional, the top responses were adaptability, flexibility, initiative, problem-solving ability, and communication skills. English appeared on the list, but it ranked sixth.
Over the years, I have worked with many Japanese managers preparing for global roles. In our training or coaching sessions, it is common to hear concerns about English ability. Many worry that they cannot express themselves clearly enough, or they just don’t know enough vocabulary. ‘If only my English were better,’ is the phrase I frequently hear.
That may be true to some extent. Yet I often sensed they were struggling just as much with how to provide context and explain their ideas to someone from a completely different culture. They felt that their English ability was the bottleneck, even when they were repeatedly running into communication challenges rooted in assumptions, expectations, and ways of thinking that had little to do with language itself.
That observation aligns closely with another interesting finding from the survey.
Researchers found that perceptions of global competence changed depending on how long participants had worked overseas.
- During the early stages of an overseas assignment, respondents emphasized communication, speaking up, and taking initiative.
- After gaining more experience, their focus shifted toward understanding others and accepting different perspectives.
- Those with several years of overseas experience increasingly highlighted diversity, flexibility, tolerance, and adaptation.
This suggests that many professionals begin their global journey focused on how to communicate. As they gain experience, they become more focused on understanding. Over time, they learn to adapt.
Perhaps this is one reason English ranked lower than many people would expect. Success in an international environment requires more than finding the right words. It also involves understanding how others see the world and adjusting our communication accordingly.
The survey also asked participants what experiences had helped prepare them for international work. Study abroad was the most common answer. Respondents rarely emphasized improved English as the primary benefit. Instead, they described gaining confidence, becoming comfortable interacting with people from different backgrounds, and learning to express their own opinions.
Those experiences helped them navigate unfamiliar situations and perspectives.
For organizations developing future global leaders, there may be an important lesson here.
English remains an important tool. Yet the professionals who have already spent time working internationally seem to place greater value on adaptability, problem solving, communication, and the ability to work effectively with people whose assumptions, experiences, and perspectives differ from their own.
Perhaps global readiness begins when we become comfortable engaging with those differences and learn how to communicate across them.
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Source
Kuze, K. (2022). Surveying Young Japanese Employees Working Overseas on Global Human Resources (Toyo University).