31 Components of Intercultural Competence

Components of Intercultural Communication Competence

Intercultural communication competence (ICC) means being able to communicate effectively and appropriately in different cultural contexts. It’s not just about speaking clearly—it’s about listening, learning, and adapting with respect.

Three key components of ICC are: motivation, knowledge, and tolerance for uncertainty.

1. Motivation

Motivation refers to why someone wants to engage in intercultural communication. It can be:

• Intrinsic – driven by curiosity, openness, and a desire to learn about others
• Extrinsic – driven by external rewards, such as career advancement or recognition (Martin & Nakayama, 2010)

People in dominant cultural groups may feel less pressure to adapt, since others are often expected to adjust to them. In contrast, members of nondominant groups often navigate intercultural situations daily. They may adjust their language, tone, or appearance to fit dominant norms—for example, by using standard English, changing their communication style, or withholding personal details.

While intrinsic motivation often leads to more meaningful engagement, motivation alone isn’t enough. Someone may build cross-cultural relationships only when it benefits them, then step away once their goal is met. Strong intercultural competence involves mutual respect, long-term connection, and self-awareness about your own reasons for engaging.

2. Knowledge

Knowledge includes self-awareness, awareness of others, mindfulness, and cognitive flexibility.

• Self-awareness means understanding your own culture, communication style, and values.
• Other-awareness means being open to how others may interpret your actions differently.
• Mindfulness is paying close attention during conversations and reflecting on how they went.
• Cognitive flexibility is your ability to adjust your thinking and learn from experience.

We don’t develop these skills passively. It takes reflection, curiosity, and effort. For example, Canadians are often seen as friendly and outgoing, but in cultures that value slower, deeper connections, this can come across as superficial. Noticing how you’re perceived—and adjusting accordingly—is a key part of ICC.

Most people tend to interact with others who are similar to them. Expanding your exposure—through school, work, travel, or media—can build your understanding of other cultures. Even learning another language can shift how you think and relate to the world.

3. Tolerance for Uncertainty

Intercultural communication often involves uncertainty. You may not know what to say, what’s appropriate, or how to interpret someone’s reaction. Tolerance for uncertainty is your ability to stay present and open in those moments (Martin & Nakayama, 2010).

Someone with low tolerance might shut down or avoid the situation. Someone with high tolerance is more likely to stay calm, ask questions, and keep learning. This openness leads to better outcomes, especially in diverse workplaces.

People who are curious, reflective, and willing to adapt are better equipped to navigate intercultural challenges—and help others do the same.

Attribution

This chapter contains material taken from Chapter 8.4 “Intercultural Communication Competence” in Intercultural Communication and is used under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

References

References are at the end of this chapter.