To help managers better understand the experiences of immigrant employees, Sarah Tattersall, Manager of Recruitment and Talent Development at 3M in London, Ont., suggests managers take part in a quick language exercise.
Managers have a five-minute conversation and every time they say a verb, they have to come up with a synonym. As Ms. Tattersall points out, this gives them an appreciation for how much work goes into a simple conversation when your first language isn’t English.