As North America’s workforce has diversified with growing numbers of non-native English speakers, a demand for accent reduction training has emerged among employers, according to Novations Group, a global consulting organization based in Boston.

Clear communication is essential for global organizations to function optimally, noted Novations Director of Client Services Katharine Stowe. “With frequent conference calls and team members with multinational backgrounds, being understood easily and accurately may often be difficult.”

In partnership with the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Accent Reduction Institute, Novations now offers companies in the U.S. and Canada a new interpersonal communications module known as “Speaking 101: Speaking Effectively.”

Speaking Effectively was designed to maintain each person's unique cultural identity while eliminating language barriers, said Judy Ravin, president of the Accent Reduction Institute, who created the methodology. “Participants generally see immediate improvement, and outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive since we began to offer the training three years ago.”

In a recent training provided to one global organization, 83 percent of participants reported greater confidence in their overall effectiveness after just a single round of instruction, observed Ravin. “Moreover, 69 percent indicated they had fewer requests from colleagues for clarification or repetition, and ‘critical errors’ were reduced by more than two-thirds.”

Benefit for the individual is also a core objective of the training, added Stowe. “Individuals who in the past may not typically have been considered may now have access to advancement opportunities. After all, much of advancement hinges on communication and networking skills, and effective accent reduction training can level the corporate playing field, allowing all employees a fair chance at promotion.”

Started in 2005, the Accent Reduction Institute has quickly become the leader in corporate and individual accent reduction. With such clients as Boeing, Comerica and General Motors, the company has earned a reputation for service and positive outcomes. ARI customizes corporate programs and provides individualized road maps for personalized improvement.