- "Cultural competence, also known as intercultural competence, is a range of cognitive, affective, behavioural, and linguistic skills that lead to effective and appropriate communication with people of other cultures."
The ability to understand and interact with people from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Communication: The ability to effectively communicate with people from diverse cultures, including non-verbal communication, active listening, and avoiding cultural biases in communication.
Cultural Awareness: Developing an understanding of the beliefs, values, and practices of different cultures to gain a greater appreciation for diversity and different ways of life.
Stereotyping and Cultural Biases: An understanding of how stereotypes and cultural biases can impact different cultures and the ability to identify and challenge these biases in oneself and others.
Multiculturalism: Understanding the history, traditions, and contributions of different cultural groups in society and valuing diversity in all aspects of life.
Cultural Competency Training: Specific training designed to teach skills and strategies for interacting with individuals and groups from different cultures and backgrounds.
Language Proficiency: Developing the ability to communicate or understand multiple languages, including the use of translation services, to promote effective communication with diverse cultures.
Cross-Cultural Teamwork: The ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and partners from different cultural backgrounds to achieve common goals.
Conflict Resolution: The ability to manage conflicts and disagreements in a culturally appropriate manner, taking into account cultural differences in communication and negotiation.
Diversity and Inclusion: The promotion of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of life and understanding the benefits of a diverse and inclusive environment.
Cultural Sensitivity: Developing an awareness of one's own cultural biases and beliefs and developing sensitivity to the beliefs, values, and practices of others.
Intercultural Contacts: The ability to create, manage, and maintain relationships with people from different cultures, including negotiating and managing differences in cultural communication and practices.
Cultural Differences in Healthcare: An understanding of cultural differences in healthcare, including beliefs about illness, health behaviors, and healthcare access, to provide effective care to all patients.
Cultural Responsiveness: The ability to adjust one's own behavior and communication to meet the needs of individuals and groups from different cultural backgrounds.
Communication Skills: This refers to the ability to effectively communicate with people from diverse backgrounds while accommodating cultural differences. It includes verbal and non-verbal communication, listening skills, and use of features of language.
Respect and Empathy: In order to build strong relationships, it is important for individuals to have respect and empathy for people from different cultures. Respecting and acknowledging others’ beliefs, values, and customs can strengthen their understanding of others' perspectives.
Emotional Intelligence: Cultural competency also includes the ability to recognize, understand and manage one's own emotions, while respecting emotional differences of others. Strong emotional intelligence allows individuals to communicate more effectively, improve relationships and avoid culturally inappropriate actions/communications.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Different cultures have different customs and ways of life. Cultural competency involves being flexible and adaptable and open to learning new ways of doing things to fit in with new cultures. It involves the ability to adapt to change and appreciate new perspectives.
Knowledge of Cultures: Understanding different cultures allows for greater cultural competency. Knowledge of food, traditions, customs, language, communication styles, as well as the cultural, social, and economic norms can lead to more meaningful conversations, productive interactions, and better understanding of the community one is interacting with.
Self-Awareness: This is about self-reflection, identifying biases, and being mindful of one’s cultural beliefs, perceptions and the impact they have on interactions with others. Becoming self-aware helps overcome cultural barriers and prevent misunderstandings.
Personal Values: Being aware of one's own values and how they influence communication and interactions with others is a critical aspect of cultural competency. Without this awareness, individuals can make cultural assumptions that lead to misunderstandings, negative attitudes and poor relationships.
Leadership and Mediation: Cultural competency also involves the ability to mediate and resolve conflicts, whether it be within or between cultural groups. It requires leadership, critical thinking, empathy, and problem-solving skills.
Community Participation: Cultural competency also includes active community participation, leadership in community activities, and working with diverse groups to bring about positive change.
- "Intercultural or cross-cultural education are terms used for the training to achieve cultural competence."
- "Effective intercultural communication relates to behaviors that culminate with the accomplishment of the desired goals of the interaction and all parties involved in the situation."
- "Appropriate intercultural communication includes behaviors that suit the expectations of a specific culture, the characteristics of the situation, and the level of the relationship between the parties involved in the situation."