Our life’s work is building bridges among differences, softening barriers to living life with cultural others, and probing the mysteries of unknown places and peoples. We do so not only to manage more appropriately, teach more wisely, and train more effectively, but also sometimes for the sheer pleasure of experiencing differences. The core tool of our trade is intercultural competence, that illusive set of skills, knowledge, and attitudes that is so essential on our global stage.

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Often, when we ask an intercultural question, the answer is “It depends.” Why do people from some cultures avoid participating in meetings? It depends. What is the source of prejudice? It depends. Why do people from some cultures seem to resist following the rules? It depends.

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It depends on the time, the place, the culture, the face saving, the thinking style, and many other variables.

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For those engaging culturally different others, there are several core skills that are key to reigning in our first impressions, and counteracting the human tendency to form barriers between us and them.

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This full day workshop focused on those skills, and how to practice and teach them, through:

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• Exploring - and clarifying - that necessary skillset, mindset, and heartset, based on recent research

• Highlighting the function of intercultural competence in both domestic and global contexts

• Discussing practical applications with an intercultural case study