The reality is people can travel the world and even speak many different languages and yet still have limited abilities to bridge cultural differences or truly understand different perspectives. Intercultural competence is not something that people develop without purposeful effort. In most cases, special training is necessary and quite beneficial.

What we consider friendly, polite, or appropriate is culturally conditioned. Friendly, polite, or appropriate behavior in our own culture may come across as overbearing, rude, or shameful to people from different cultures. The belief that being friendly or just good with people is enough to bridge differences and communicate well when interacting with people from different cultures is an ethnocentric assumption which indicates the belief that our way of seeing the world and interacting is central to all.

Developing intercultural competence is much more complicated than simply gaining some new information. It is intellectually, psychologically, and emotionally challenging to deeply interact with different cultures and worldviews. Research has shown that the most effective means of developing intercultural competence is through group and individual training with the support of a qualified instructor.

Often businesses, universities, churches, or other organizations decide to hire one person to specialize in dealing with cultural issues. While hiring an expert can be beneficial, if the group or organizational leadership as a whole does not develop intercultural competence it will be difficult to find agreement on appropriate changes or steps. It is likely that conflict in this area will grow unless the group develops together and can approach cultural differences with a common understanding.

It’s easy to assume intercultural competence is only important for people who live abroad or travel frequently. The reality is there are cultural differences all around us, even in our own communities. Cultural differences can be found not just in people from different countries but also in people from different regions of the same country or even in people from different social and economic backgrounds. Developing intercultural competence is an essential skill in today’s world and can be enormously beneficial in both work and social settings even if you don’t travel outside your own borders.

Anyone who is willing to put in the time and effort can improve his or her intercultural abilities. The most important factors in development are the humility to recognize the need to grow and the determination to take steps to do it. The help of a qualified instructor to provide support and guidance will also speed and enhance the process.

When one considers the cost of cross-cultural misunderstandings, whether in business, community, or personal contexts, it becomes apparent that training in developing intercultural competence is well worth the investment of both time and resources. The rewards of growing in this area are immense, both professionally and personally.  The initial assessment and one hour of individual guidance to help you understand your results as well as your personalized development plan is $150. That alone can provide you with valuable insights into where you are and how to move forward. One way to keep costs down is to learn as a group. Being part of a class of 10-15 participants is always less expensive than individual coaching and learning as a group is more fun. Talk to your colleagues or friends and make a plan to develop your level of intercultural competence together!