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In today’s fast-paced business landscape, proactive succession planning is essential for HR professionals. Preparing the next generation of leaders is a business-critical initiative, to ensure organizational continuity, agility and long-term success.

Succession planning is often high up on the HR agenda, as it also promotes progression, reduces business disruption, and attracts top talent. There are many components to effective succession planning, including skills development, but one skill that’s often overlooked in this process is communication. One often overlooked yet highly influential component of effective succession planning is language proficiency.

At Pearson ELL, we believe strongly in the power of language and have designed our succession planning strategy with this in mind. The focus is on creating multilingual leaders who are not only proficient in their respective fields but also have a deep understanding of global culture and market dynamics.

In this blog post, we explore how communication skills and specifically language proficiency plays a pivotal role in succession planning and the development of future leaders. We’ll also provide actionable insights for HR professionals and managers on integrating language development into their succession strategies. As well as some insights from our very own ELL HR team.

Of the 1.5 billion English speakers in the world, over half learned it as a second or additional language.

The “language of business”, English has become a foundational skill for anyone looking to work in an international business or at a leadership level, and many English as a Second Language (ESL) speakers find themselves working in English on a daily basis.

But working in your second or third language comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities.

We spoke to five global leaders about the role English has played in their careers, the challenges of being an ESL speaker, and how businesses can create a culture where everyone has a voice.

Learning English can be a rewarding yet challenging journey. Whether you're aiming to improve your language skills for travel, work, or personal growth, using the right resources will make all the difference. 

Types of English exercises you should try

Grammar exercises

Grammar is the backbone of any language. Worksheets focusing on grammar can help you understand sentence structure, verb tenses and other essential rules. Look for exercises that cover:

• Verb conjugation: Practice different verb forms and understand when to use each.
• Sentence structure: Learn how to construct sentences correctly.
• Punctuation: Understand the importance of punctuation marks and how to use them properly.

Vocabulary building

Expanding your vocabulary is crucial for effective communication. Worksheets can help you learn new words and phrases, as well as their meanings and usage. Try exercises like:

• Word matching: Match words with their definitions.
• Fill-in-the-blanks: Complete sentences using appropriate vocabulary.
• Synonyms and antonyms: Identify words with similar or opposite meanings.

Reading comprehension

Improving your reading skills involves understanding and interpreting written texts. Worksheets designed for reading comprehension can help you practice:

• Short stories: Read short passages and answer questions about the content.
• Articles: Analyze articles to identify main ideas and supporting details.
• Inference: Draw conclusions based on the information provided in the text.

Writing practice

Writing exercises help you articulate your thoughts clearly and coherently. Worksheets can guide you through different writing styles and formats:

• Essay writing: Practice writing essays on various topics.
• Letter writing: Learn how to write formal and informal letters.
• Storytelling: Create your own stories using prompts or randomly selected features.