Intercultural Competency Should Be Included in Your Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Plan

Before I went on study-abroad, I attended a training workshop to prepare for my time abroad. During that workshop, the presenters explained how culture was like an iceberg in that we only see a small part of what makes up culture, like the small part of the iceberg that you can see above the water. The majority of what makes up culture is underneath the surface, like the large portion of the iceberg that is under the water. Since many cultural dynamics must be unsurfaced to understand a culture truly, then intercultural competency is essential.

Intercultural competency should be a part of your organization’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy. The Intercultural Development Inventory, provided by the IDI, LLC, is a tool to measure the level of intercultural competency in your organization and to create individual and organizational goals and plans. The Intercultural Development Inventory measures where your organization falls on a continuum between Monocultural Mindset and Intercultural Mindset.

Organizations do not have to go abroad to encounter different cultures. I know that I have had to bridge multiple cultures in my work in the church and other nonprofits organizations in Michigan. Intercultural competency takes time and intentionality, but it is crucial. This work is vital for organizations to do.

Why should intercultural competency be included in your DEI plan? According to the IDI, LLC, “Intercultural competence is about making a diverse environment an inclusive one” (Resource Guide, page 28). Intercultural competence is more than just learning about different cultures or understanding differences. It is about adapting to those differences and making your organization more inclusive. It might also mean changing how your organization does things so that everyone involved in your organization can fully engage and thrive. This quote from Arthur Chan, a Diversity and Inclusion Strategist, sums it up pretty well, “Diversity is a fact. Equity is a choice. Inclusion is an action. Belonging is an outcome” (2020). Intercultural competency is an action step that your organization can take to move towards greater inclusion. Make it part of your plan today!

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