To be cross-culturally competent one needs to have had some international experience -- travelled extensively and experienced different cultures. But over the years, I've met on one side, men and women who are naturally cross-culturally attuned and yet have had surprisingly little international experience, and on the other side, men and women who have travelled the world quite extensively, even speak a foreign language(s) but are some of the least cross-culturally competent people around.

Are you as cross-culturally open-minded and competent as you'd like to believe?

1. DENIAL STAGE [Point of departure: "Our way is the only right way."]

Mind-set: Blind mono-culturalism

People in this stage don't really believe in cultural differences; they think people who are behaving differently don't know any better. These people tend to impose their own value systems and worldviews on others, knowing that they're "right "and these other people are "confused." They believe the way they behave is natural and normal and the way other people behave, if it's different, is wrong and misguided. These people are not threatened by cultural differences because they simply don't accept them. Generally, people in this stage have had limited contact with people different from themselves and thus have no experiential basis for thinking otherwise.

Cross-Cultural Competence: This has also been called the state of blissful ignorance. When you are in this stage, you are unaware of cultural or worldview differences or refuse to acknowledge that they even exist. It does not occur to you that you may be culturally insensitive or making cultural faux pas or that you may be misinterpreting much of the behavior going on around you. As far as you are concerned, you "right "and those other people are "wrong."

2. DEFENSIVE STAGE [Point of departure: "There may be another way but there shouldn't be"]

Mind-set: Different means deficient

People in this stage have some awareness that their own culture, value systems and worldviews may not be absolute - and they're not happy about it. Unlike people in the denial stage, those in the defensive stage understand that there are cultures, value systems and worldviews that are different from their own, but they are deeply threatened by these differences and believe that other cultures, value systems and worldviews are decidedly inferior, immoral or dangerous. "This may be how things are, but it is not the way things should be" is their attitude.

They know better than to try to impose their values or worldviews on others, but they view other cultures and worldviews negatively and prefer to have little or no contact with those who think and behave differently. Some of these people react to other equally valid cultures, value systems and worldviews with rejecting their own culture, value system and worldview and indiscriminately embracing another culture, value system and worldview even when they don't understand that particular culture or worldview .

Cross-Cultural Competence: When you are in this stage, you realize that differences exist between the way you and other people of another culture behave, though you understand very little about what these differences are, how numerous they might be, or how deep they might go. Because you are not yet over the "shock" of your culture, value system and worldview not being universal, you sometimes find yourself uncomfortable (or sense tension/discomfort) when in contact with people of another culture because it's hard for you to accept others' cultures, value systems and worldviews as equally valid.

3. MINIMIZATION STAGE [Point of departure: "There are reasons why people behave differently."]

Mind-set: Passive tolerance

People in this stage are still threatened by cultural and worldview differences - that's why they try to minimize them. But they don't necessarily think that those who are different are inferior, misguided, or otherwise unfortunate. Rather, they believe that the cultural and worldview differences are real but not especially deep or significant. They say things like, "It doesn't matter where you come from, we're all human beings", "I can be successful in any culture without any special effort," "business is business the world over", or "technology doesn't care about culture". Their rationale is that as culturally different as people are, we can all just get along if we pretend there are no cultural differences.

If people in the denial stage deny cultural differences and people in the defense stage accept but demonize difference, people in the minimization stage try to trivialize cultural differences.

Cross-Cultural Competence: You insist on people getting along with everyone and even boast of how many "friends" you have that are culturally different from you. But you still haven't developed cross-cultural competency skills that's why cultural difference is something you'd rather ignore than deal with. Confronting these differences trigger a series of complex emotions and reactions that you'd rather avoid. Often times trying so hard to avoid differences leads to way too many stereotype jokes or tolerance of stereotype jokes that trivialize cultural differences. You just want the differences to go away -- and not have to deal with them. Your interactions (and relationships) with people of a different culture and worldview are on most part superficial because you make no real effort to acknowledge and validate how the other person experiences life -- and the world.

4. TOLERANCE STAGE [Point of departure: "It's OK to behave differently."]

Mind-set: Favorable reception

People in this stage accept cultural differences as being deep and legitimate. They know people of other cultures behave differently and accept the inevitability of other value systems, worldviews and behavioral norms. They still find some of these behaviors hard to deal with or accept, but they are not threatened by them nor do they judge them as wrong, inferior, immoral or dangerous. They do not normally adopt many of these behaviors for themselves but they have a more tolerant, accepting and sympathetic attitude. They are neutral, not positive, about cultural differences.

Cross-Cultural Competence: You know the cultural differences, value systems and worldviews that exist, you admit that they are equally valid and you try to be culturally sensitive. It doesn't come naturally yet - you have to make a conscious effort to behave in culturally appropriate ways - but you are much more aware of how your behavior is coming across to someone of another culture. You also excitedly seek out people of other cultures, value systems and worldviews because you now know that you will be able to figure these people out if you can remain objective and open-minded.

5. INTEGRATION STAGE [Point of departure: "Multi-cultural living can enhance our lives and even be fun."]

Mind-set: Appreciation and admiration

These people have gone from being neutral about cultural differences, value systems and worldviews to being positive and excited. They not only appreciate and admire cultural differences, they are willing and able to adjust their own behavior to conform to the cultural norms and behaviours of the people they interact with. They do not give up their own birth cultures, values and beliefs, but they do integrate aspects of other cultures into their own identity - and worldview.

They are the people who say things like, "More differences in cultures and worldviews equals more creative ideas," or "I know they're trying really hard to adapt to my cultural style, so it's fair that I try to meet them halfway" or "there is so much we all can learn from different cultures, value systems and worldviews."

Cross-Cultural Competence: You not only demonstrate a willingness to learn new skills and explore other cultures, when among people of other cultures, you no longer have to think about what you're doing in order to do the culturally sensitive thing. Culturally appropriate behavior is now second nature to you and you can trust your instincts because your cultural sensitivity has become part of your own identity. You are cross -culturally competent (and engaged) and your personal life, business approach, communication style, language, attitude and actions reflect where you are at --cross-culturally!

References:

"Culture Matters: The Peace Corps Cross-Cultural Workbook".
Bennett, M. "A Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity"