Keeping open channels of communication is of utmost importance. To ensure smooth communication, we are sure to leave notes and give explanations. We also have our process documented and written down. When we don’t know how to handle something, we can look to see if there is a relevant guide already written. If there is not, we can write one so that the next person with a similar problem will have more resources at their fingertips. Emails, text messaging, voice messages, and phone calls are ways to communicate and we choose our method depending on the urgency of the task at hand.

There are things that a single person can’t or doesn’t know how to handle alone. This is why we make it a point to always ask for help when we need it. This way, more challenging problems are dealt with sooner rather than putting them off or sweeping them under the rug. For example, we had to figure out our new tax responsibilities. Taxes are usually complex to deal with, but with several people working with different sources, we were able to check our information against each other. This led to clarity. During the process, we found different opinions, but it was that confusion that helped us identify the problem areas and showed us where we needed to focus and research in order to find the right answer.

Teamwork is important when there is too much work for one person, but that is not the only time teamwork matters. Another key aspect of effective teamwork is understanding everyone’s different roles and their strengths as an individual. Recently, for one graphic design project, we asked one of our team members who hadn’t worked on the project at all to read our instructions. A fresh pair of eyes on the project was needed to make sure that the instructions were clear and understandable to someone who hadn’t seen it before.

We always try to keep a positive attitude. Having the right state of mind can help turn a hectic, stressful day into a learning opportunity and a chance to solve new problems. For example, when we work with certain communities such as blind and deaf/ hard of hearing people, there are extra considerations we must think about. We must make sure that our work is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act. We needed to do some research on it, and took this as an opportunity to learn more about our legal system and about how to help different communities that we want to serve.

Staying positive can keep us energized, productive, and satisfied at work. Having a positive attitude also makes it a pleasure to work with our coworkers and clients, and that helps us build teamwork and respect, which in turn makes tackling challenges easier and more interesting. Last but not least, having passion for the projects encourages us to face challenges energetically. At Monterey Language Services, we know that no problem is insurmountable thanks to our energy, teamwork, and passion for our jobs.

Our team is spread throughout the country and operates in different time zones. Like the sun, our workflow moves from east to west, so being in different time zones gives us more opportunity to serve our client. We have several systems in place to help us work together effectively, so despite being in different locations we always come together to complete large (and small) projects.

Our orbits are dynamic and energetic because our team members are professional and proactive. We recently completed a 17k-word EnglishàSpanish translation project in just 48 hours. Because this project’s scope was challenging with a tight deadline, it required a lot of coordination. We collaborated with 10 translators, consistently communicating with them as well as our internal team members to make sure everything was getting done while making sure multiple people weren’t working on the same thing. It was intense, but all of our planets aligned for this project; our team worked hard, communicated effectively, and produced a 17k-word translation that we are proud of.

We value our individual creativity and spirit. Everybody has a different and important role to play, but we all have to figure out solutions to problems, work out details, and collaborate with each other. Our work requires energy and creativity, and perhaps most importantly, passion. We aim to provide our team members with the tools and flexibility needed for them to work as effectively as possible and to grow as employees; we want our employees to innovate and create their own effective routine at work. This individual-driven approach challenges our employees to think energetically at work and makes coming to work exciting.

At Monterey Language Services, we are always learning and adapting our methods to the growing needs of the language services industry. Our focus on both individuality and collaboration helps us excel in meeting the needs and requests of our clientele.

One important part of maintaining a positive mental attitude for yourself and the whole team is taking responsibility and being accountable for your actions and inaction. Realizing that you are responsible allows you to ask yourself what you can do to improve or change and do better in the future. Overall, a good and positive attitude creates a respectful and dynamic team atmosphere focused on serving the customers rather than on who is to blame.

In conclusion, at Monterey Language Services we feel privileged to be able to work with such excellent team members, all of whom share a positive attitude in work and life. Our employees, freelancers, and contractors embrace human interaction, feeling grateful to serve our communities and make contributions to global communication.

Monterey Language Services is committed to bridging the world’s languages by providing quality, professional and efficient translation & interpretation services in over 175 languages. Please feel free to request a quote from us.