Why Intercultural Competence Matters
In today’s globalized world, understanding the cultural values and expectations of international markets, clients, and colleagues is not optional — it’s essential.
Intercultural competence is the ability to communicate and interact effectively and appropriately across cultures. Developing it is a lifelong journey, requiring motivation, time, reflection — and much more than just international experience.
“Every time I take a trip, the experience acquires meaning and grows deeper only after I get back home and, sitting still, begin to convert the sights I’ve seen into lasting insights.”
– Pico Iyer
Assume Nothing. Seek Positive Intentions.
Working globally often means encountering behaviors that seem unfamiliar, surprising, or even rude. But what if we approached these moments with curiosity instead of judgment?
A few golden rules for intercultural agility:
- Don’t take anything personally.
- Look for the positive intention behind behaviors.
- Reflect on your own assumptions — they are not universal.
- Invest in developing your intercultural competence to become more agile, creative, and successful.
“To understand everything is to forgive everything.”
– Madame de Staël
A Story of Coffee and Understanding
When I first met the Governor of a province in Iraq, I waited two hours past our agreed meeting time — without any apology from his side. When we were finally invited to join him, I was the only woman among a group of men. Coffee was “served” … but all the cups were empty.
Spontaneously, I misinterpreted this gesture as a sign of rejection. Luckily, my translator whispered to me: “Stay seated – and keep smiling.”
Later, I discovered:
- Hosting a coffee ceremony is a major sign of respect and hospitality in Arab culture.
- Under embargo, real coffee was unavailable — but the ceremony itself mattered more than the beverage.
- Offering another drink would have been an insult.
By honoring the ritual — even symbolically — they were honoring me.
Six months later, during another trip, I experienced a complete shift: Stopping by the Governor’s house unannounced, he paused a meeting with 60 community leaders just to greet me.
What had changed? Sharing a coffee ceremony had established a bond between us.
Different Cultures – Different Assumptions
- In Switzerland, keeping schedules is a sign of respect.
- In Iraq, attending to relationships takes precedence over time.
Neither approach is right or wrong:
They simply reflect different cultural values.
Your Turn …
- Would you keep someone waiting two hours for a first meeting?
- Would you leave a meeting to greet an unexpected guest?
How you answer depends on the culture you operate in — and on your assumptions.
→ Developing intercultural competence is key if you work internationally, lead multicultural teams, serve global clients, or travel abroad. It’s also an incredible journey of self-awareness, creativity, and human connection.
Providing customized, highly interactive, dynamic and learner-centered training programs and workshops.
Keynote speaker – known for delivering engaging and passionate speaches
–> Sample sessions
- A World of Differences – Working effectively in a multicultural environment
- Intercultural Learning – For social Transformation
- Marhaba – Cultural Briefing – Culture specific training
* Pico Iyer, British-born American travel writer, author of “The Art of Stillness : Adventures in Going Nowhere”
* Madame de Staël (1766 – 1817), French woman of letters
