![]() ![]() Successful intercultural communication happens when people with differing values, beliefs, preferences and behaviours recognise and respect cultural differences and actively work towards mutual adaptation. Our workplace cultural identity is influenced by a range of cultural groups such as our industry, organisation and profession, as well as family, school, gender, disability, age, local area, region and country. Our cultural identity is made up of values, beliefs, preferences and practices. The British Council defines culture within the framework of ‘identity’: While this can be useful to help us prepare for unfamiliar situations, it can also be dangerous as it can lead to stereotyping groups of people or incorrect assumptions about behaviour and preferences. ‘Culture’ is a complex concept and has traditionally been viewed as the same as nationality or country. So, how can workplace intercultural competence be improved, enabling individuals and the organisation to overcome intercultural communication barriers and achieve their goals within this global virtual space? Understand what culture really means to avoid assumptions and stereotypes It is vital to effective engagement, productivity, and performance in the hybrid workplace. Intercultural competence is the knowledge, attitudes and skills we need to communicate effectively in intercultural situations. Virtual communication makes understanding diverse cultural behaviours and overcoming intercultural communication barriers more difficult.Ī British Council survey in 2012 found that “employers are under strong pressure to find employees who are not only technically proficient, but also culturally astute and able to thrive in a global work environment.” This finding holds true now more than ever: a PwC CEO Panel Survey found that CEOs across the world intend to continue with remote and hybrid working yet poor intercultural competence within the organisation can cost millions. ![]() Yet these opportunities also bring challenges for our teams. Remote and hybrid working have blurred geographical boundaries making the workplace truly global and increasing opportunities for intercultural collaboration. Discover valuable tips to improve your teams' intercultural competence in this article. Intercultural communication skills can help improve trust and reduce miscommunication in hybrid and diverse workplaces. ![]()
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