In today’s diverse and global workplaces, professionals regularly interact with people from different cultural backgrounds. Culture affects how we communicate, solve problems, make decisions, and build relationships. Misunderstandings can happen when people assume that others share the same beliefs, values, and communication styles. Learning to recognize and adapt to cultural differences is a key part of becoming a strong communicator and leader.
This chapter explores what intercultural communication is and why it matters. You will learn about intercultural competence, key value dimensions of culture, and how cultural factors like identity, power, gender, time, and communication style influence workplace behaviour. You will also examine useful theories, including Hofstede’s cultural dimensions and the Intercultural Development Continuum, to help you better understand your own cultural mindset and communicate more successfully across cultures.
