The Impact of Intercultural Competence on Success in the Global Workplace
- sarahwoltersco
- Feb 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 17
Why Intercultural Competence is a Must-Have Professional Skill
In today’s world, success can’t be measured solely by your technical skills and achievements. Success requires our ability to effectively navigate differences to create collaboration, innovation, and growth. Intercultural competence, the ability to understand and adapt to cultural differences as well as cultural similarities, is no longer optional—it’s a professional competency applicable to every industry.
Diversity has been a buzz word metric since at least the 1980’s, but diversity without intercultural competence won’t produce results. Companies in the top quartile for diversity are 35% more likely to outperform their peers in profitability, largely due to the diverse perspectives they bring to problem-solving (McKinsey & Company, 2020). While significant on its own, this statistic fails to mention, but largely relies on the fact that these companies have to know what to do with their differences. They have to have processes, systems and relationships in place for each team member to feel heard and valued so that the entire organization benefits from the diversity of thought at the table. If we simply invite people with different experiences to the table, our organization has gained nothing. It’s when we embrace the opinions, thoughts, skills and experiences of each individual invited in how we work and what we do that the organization reaps the benefits of having a diverse team.
Why It Matters:
Regardless of policy changes and leadership views, by 2044, the U.S. will become a majority-minority nation (U.S. Census Bureau). Organizations that cultivate intercultural competence will see better employee engagement and results while also being better equipped to serve an increasingly diverse customer base.
In 2020, 50.2% of children in the US are already racial or ethnic minorities (defined as identifying as anything other than non Hispanic white).
In 2044, 50.3% of all Americans will be racial or ethnic minorities (defined as identifying as anything other than non Hispanic white).
Reframing the Conversation:
The ability to navigate cultural differences isn’t about compliance or policies as it may have started. It’s also not about changing values or views. The focus is on understanding differences in order to see the value they provide. This work is really about empowering individuals and teams so that they are better able to connect, collaborate, and lead effectively in any setting. It’s about getting the most value out of every team and team member you employ.
Empowered Employees: Inclusive environments improve employee engagement by 17%, driving innovation and performance (Deloitte, 2018).
Work More Efficiently: Teams with high cultural intelligence solved complex problems 30% more quickly. (Vorecol, 2025)
Stronger Teams: Interculturally competent leaders reduce turnover by fostering a sense of belonging and purpose, potentially saving companies millions in rehiring costs.
If you were presented with training to build more effective teams, it would be an easy yes. There’s only benefit for you and the employee in having strong relationships and productive teams. The key is realizing intercultural competence training IS one of the trainings that can provide those results.
Building Intercultural Skills for the Global Workplace
Intercultural competence is a skill that transforms how people work, connect, and lead. Knowing where your team stands with this competency allows you to think strategically about what you can accomplish now and in the future. The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) was designed to assess both individual and organizations intercultural competence.
Let’s equip your team with the ability to:
Navigate cultural complexities.
Foster innovation through diverse perspectives.
Build stronger relationships with clients, colleagues, and communities.
I’d love to work together to tailor these intercultural strategies to your industry and your goals. When we understand and adapt, we can truly thrive.
Contact Sarah Wolters Co today to learn how intercultural competence can elevate your organization to the next level.
Want to learn more? Dive into the sources here!
Deloitte. (n.d.). Diversity and inclusion at work: Eight powerful truths. Deloitte Insights. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/deloitte-review/issue-22/diversity-and-inclusion-at-work-eight-powerful-truths.html
McKinsey & Company. (2020). The moral case for workforce diversity. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mcKinsey/Email/Classics/2020/2020-02-classic.html#:~:text=The%20moral%20case%20for%20workforce,for%20gender%20diversity%2C%2015%20percent
Vorecol. (n.d.). How can cultural intelligence enhance collaboration among diverse team members? Vorecol. Retrieved January 28, 2025, from https://vorecol.com/blogs/blog-how-can-cultural-intelligence-enhance-collaboration-among-diverse-team-members-100214
Comments