Intercultural communication competence (ICC)

Intercultural communication competence (ICC) refers to the skill of communicating effectively and appropriately in different cultural contexts. ICC has several key components, including motivation, understanding of self and others, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty.

It’s important to think about why a person wants to communicate with people from other cultures. This motivation is the driving force behind intercultural communication. If a person has a healthy curiosity that drives him or her toward intercultural encounters to learn more about themselves and others, they are more likely to succeed in intercultural communication. This intrinsic motivation makes intercultural communication a voluntary, rewarding, and lifelong learning process.

Members of dominant groups may not be as motivated to engage in intercultural communication as those from non-dominant groups. They may not see the benefits of doing so. This can create an unequal situation, where the person from the non-dominant group is expected to adapt to the communication style of the other person. This can happen even if it’s not intentional.
If a person is motivated to engage in intercultural communication, they can develop a better understanding of themselves and others, which will help them communicate more effectively and handle uncertainty better.

In this short video, ICLD Zambian mentor Danny Chibinda gives an example of an unequal situation in which he found himself as a representative of a non-dominant group.

Let’s have a look at some examples of intercultural communication competence!

Being able to ask questions and listen actively to others from different cultural backgrounds, without making assumptions or stereotypes, is a key aspect of intercultural competence. This shows respect for others and helps build a foundation for effective intercultural communication.

Another great skill that you can master is being able to adapt your communication style to suit the cultural context you are in. For example, in some cultures direct eye contact is seen as a sign of respect and attentiveness, while in others it may be considered impolite or aggressive. A competent intercultural communicator would recognize this cultural difference and adjust their eye contact accordingly in order to effectively communicate with their interlocutor.

In the next session, you will hear our mentor Deon Pretorius talk about the importance of building ICC while participating in an ICLD programme.