Download Managing Cross-Cultural Differences in Canada

When interacting with people from diverse
backgrounds, misunderstandings may occur.
To manage cross-cultural issues, it is
important to distinguish between the other
people’s meaning for their behaviours
(intention), and our cultural lens assigning
meaning to their actions (perception).
Reflective Intercultural Learning Cycle:
1. When certain
behaviour doesn't meet
your expectations...
2. Don’t judge the
behaviour as ‘right or
wrong’
3. Try to make sense of
the behaviour by
reflecting on various
cultural orientations
4. After considering
different cultural
orientations, act on the
situation.
For more information, please contact:
Bradley West
Diversity Initiatives Coordinator
204.632.2016 or [email protected]
www.rrc.ca/interculturaltraining
References:
Bennett, M. J. (2007). Intercultural competence for global leadership. Retrieved from http://
www.idrinstitute.org/allegati/IDRI_t_Pubblicazioni/4/FILE_Documento.pdf
Centre for Excellence in Intercultural Education, NorQuest College (2010). Critical Incidents for
Intercultural Communication in Health Care. Retrieved from http://www.norquest.ca/cfe/intercultural/
resources/CIICH_final_facilitatorsguide.pdf
Cultural competence is required to study, work and live
in today’s global environment.
This publication provides strategies on how to be
aware and sensitive of cross-cultural differences
and respond effectively when interacting with
people from different backgrounds.
Intercultural Competence is
the ability to interact effectively
and appropriately with people
from
diverse
cultural
backgrounds. It is the ability to recognize,
acknowledge, respect and incorporate an
understanding of world views and the impact
on relationships.
“Culture” is defined broadly and not limited
to national or ethnic affiliations, but may also
represent race, language, gender identity,
sexual orientation, socio-economic status,
age, physical and cognitive abilities, spiritual
beliefs, marital/parental status.
When interacting with individuals from other
backgrounds, you can try to predict their
behaviours or interpret specific situations
(generalizations) based on your previous
observation of individuals of the same group.
However, you need to avoid inflexible
statements (stereotypes) based only on
assumptions of a group that don’t allow for
individual differences. An individual may
exhibit the predominant group tendency a lot,
a little, or not at all.
Intercultural skills can be developed over
time. The key to increase your cultural
awareness is moving from thinking that “my
way is the only way” to thinking “there are
many valid ways” of interpreting and
participating in life, and this also needs to be
reflected in your behaviours.
To be culturally sensitive, a person needs to
understand subtle differences between
cultures, accept his culture as one of many
valid cultures, and behave according to the
norms and values of different situations.
To develop their experience of difference,
individuals need to move to the Integration
stage where they can instinctively change
their behaviour and communication style
when interacting with other cultures.