Intercultural skills: what are they and how can you learn them?

People from different backgrounds do not always share the same understanding of what "normal" is in intercultural situations. This means misunderstandings can arise that make working together more difficult. In these moments, it's important to recognise and respect each other's differences.

Intercultural competence is therefore a skill set that makes it easier for us to interact with people from other cultures.

What intercultural skills are there?

Because the cultural backgrounds of people aren't always completely different, but are similar in some ways or can even be identical on some points, there's no blanket solution for all intercultural situations. Instead, intercultural skills is the generic term for a whole host of different skills. The table below shows you which areas these are and, above all, the large number of soft skills and hard skills that make up intercultural competence.

Intercultural competence as the ability to act

Why are intercultural skills so important at work?

Especially if you're aiming for a career in an international company, your intercultural skills are more in demand than ever. More and more companies are looking for employees who can communicate effectively with people from different cultures, especially when global teams work closely together. This is because intercultural experience and skills improve professional interactions and thus increase the chances of success in business.

But even if you're not dealing with foreign customers, you may have colleagues from other cultures. In this case, intercultural skills are particularly important in to creating a productive and respectful working atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable.

Intercultural skills: examples of cultural differences

Different countries, different customs – when two cultures meet, there's plenty of potential for making a culturally-related faux pas. While you can certainly politely laugh off the odd faux pas, it's better if you can skilfully avoid fatal slip-ups right from the start. Here are the essential cultural differences that you should be prepared for in your professional life.

Greeting: shake hands or bow?

In the Western world, shaking hands to greet people is common practice. But be careful: if you're meeting with business people from East Asia, for example, a firm handshake can cause issues. Direct eye contact is also somewhat impolite in some regions of East Asia. How do people greet each other around the world? Here are a few country-specific customs that will strengthen your intercultural skills.

Business attire: over- or underdressed?

As far as business attire is concerned, some workplaces in the UK demand more formal attire, whereas some have a more casual dress code – it depends on your employer. However, your usual work outfits may not be suitable in an international situation. If you have a meeting with an international contact, you should wear a smart outfit out of respect for the other culture. See below for the dress code in intercultural business.

Business lunch: to your taste?

You'll encounter major intercultural differences when it comes to cuisine in particular. You should definitely take this into account when dealing with international business partners. Some eating habits are also influenced by the main religion of the country. Orthodox Jews, for example, live kosher. Intercultural skills are required here, because good business can't be done on an empty stomach. You can encounter these eating habits at a business dinner.

How to develop intercultural skills

At school, out and about where you live or at university: you can actually gain intercultural experience in every situation in life. If you're open to other cultures, you can learn effective intercultural skills in everyday life. If you have the opportunity to study abroad for a period of time, then this is a great time to gain intercultural experience. You improve your language skills, learn to live in another culture and your CV will benefit from the people skills you will have acquired.

For more intercultural skills, there are also special training courses that you can complete, for example, in the form of professional training in diversity and inclusion in the workplace. These will prepare you for dealing with intercultural situations.

Fancy a job in a global company?

If you want to experience life in an international setting and expand your intercultural skills, you'll find a lot of job ads that might interest you at JobTeaser. Simply register with JobTeaser for free and take a chance on a new challenge. If you need any help with your application, we're here to help.

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