The Cost of Cultural Incompetence

We are more interconnected than ever before. And your ability to navigate cultural differences isn’t just a soft skill - it’s a career superpower. Whether you’re leading diverse teams, serving global clients or hoping to expand into global markets, your ability to navigate cultural differences effectively can make the biggest difference in your toolkit.

What is cultural competence? It’s the ability to communicate with and effectively interact with people across cultures and deliver results across cultural boundaries. It’s your professional GPS for navigating global workspaces internally and externally. It’s not about just being polite or respectful, it’s about developing the ability to work effectively in any cultural context.

Why does it matter? Today’s workplace is not only more globally connected, generations are diverse, cultures have blended and we are working across time zones. Enhanced communication skills, sharper problem solving, building more effective teams, and stronger leadership capabilities will help you and your organization stand out in an increasingly competitive world. It’s a competitive edge you will have from higher employee retention rates, improved customer satisfaction, better team collaboration and enhanced brand reputation.

What is the cost of cultural incompetence? Not developing cultural competence can lead to increased talent costs, team conflicts, lost business opportunities, reduced productivity, damaged relationships and limited career advancement.

Invest in a solution like the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). It’s a professional assessment tool to understand how you navigate cultural differences and similarities and to support you in your professional development. It’s not a judgement of your character, a measure of your prejudice / racism. The IDI experience and debriefings are confidential.