across different cultures
business, government, non-profits
Almost everyone in business, government, and non-profits understands an important truth about the 21st century: it will be defined by growing globalization and new connections worldwide. To thrive in this future, educated professionals in all fields must learn to understand each other across different cultures.
INTERCULTURAL TRAINING
“Intercultural training” refers to any of a wide variety of practices. Some training regimens are specific to a culture or an aspect of a culture, while others teach general psychological principles. Some are integrated into foreign-language classrooms, while others are undertaken as part of corporate or professional development courses.
results of intercultural trainings
Intercultural training programs are intended to produce three kinds of results:
01
cognitive
- knowledge of a given culture
- challenging myths & stereotypes
- ability to understand the context
Cognitive outcomes aim to deepen participants’ understanding of various cultures, including their unique customs and historical contexts. These programs work to dismantle common myths and stereotypes. By recognizing the specific needs of different communities, participants can also enhance their effectiveness in business and political settings by learning to understand the context.
02
BEHAVIORAL
- effective communication
- awareness of different perspectives
- ability to avoid cultural mistakes
Behavioral outcomes focus on improving communication skills and encouraging ethical practices in professional environments. Participants learn to appreciate diverse perspectives, which helps them navigate cultural differences and avoid misunderstandings or unintentional offenses.
03
EMOTIONAL
- increased openness
- greater compassion
- receptivity to others
Emotional outcomes seek to cultivate a greater openness to others and enhance feelings of compassion. These programs help individuals feel more comfortable in diverse settings, particularly aiding expatriates and foreign exchange students as they adapt to new cultures and environments.
benefits of intercultural trainings
improved communication
Improved communication is the most obvious benefit of intercultural training, as it helps prevent confusion and misunderstandings. When forming partnerships in different cultures, many subtle factors impact the success of cross-cultural ventures, and this is where intercultural training proves invaluable. For example, humor often builds trust and connection in relationships. Within the same culture, jokes can strengthen bonds, but across cultures, humor can be misunderstood or even offensive. Intercultural training helps individuals develop the right listening and receptive attitude to understand cultural differences. It allows building stronger and more effective relationships across cultures.
reduced culture shock
Expatriates and frequent travelers often face culture shock when they move to a new, unfamiliar culture. This experience can cause sleep and eating issues, irritability, alienation, and even psychological distress like anxiety or depression. Intercultural training can significantly reduce these symptoms by providing practical knowledge and tools to ease the process. With time and continued social interaction, individuals can become more comfortable in the host culture. Over time, they may even reach a point where they feel equally at home in both their native and host cultures. Though becoming “bicultural” is a lifelong journey, intercultural training can speed up this adjustment, especially in the early phases.
fueling innovation
Intercultural training fuels innovation in business, politics, and non-profit work by helping professionals understand and respond to the needs of specific markets or communities. It equips individuals with skills to identify these needs and develop effective solutions. For instance, a company expanding to a new country may struggle without cultural knowledge, risking failure in attracting customers. The same applies to non-profits, like a European NGO that distributed farming tools in Tanzania without considering regional differences. With proper intercultural training, they could have avoided mistakes and better addressed the community’s needs.
intercultural development
Beyond understanding cultural needs, intercultural training helps individuals manage the psychological challenges of adapting to a new culture. It provides practical tools for navigating cultural transitions smoothly and quickly. Over time, with the help of training and social interaction, individuals can become “bicultural” – able to feel at home in both their original and host cultures. While this is a lifelong process, intercultural training significantly accelerates it, especially in the early stages of adaptation.