This topic has been so commonly mentioned these days, that it has become almost mundane. The current societal context has nonetheless placed the ability of mastering cultural differences at the heart of our private and professional lives.

There is no need to remind you that in diplomacy, knowledge of the deep rooted values linked to the culture of the people with whom you are negotiating (or trying to negotiate with) is vital. A simple misstep, a hasty interpretation, a misunderstanding of the values underlying certain attitudes and any hope of establishing a relationship is shattered.

In the professional sphere, even if the stakes are less crucial for world peace, it remains true that a good understanding of multicultural environments can work wonders and significantly improve the performance of a team or ensure the success of a project.

To do this, one must of course start by assessing where one is starting from in terms of intercultural skills. An initial assessment allows one to build on one’s strengths more effectively and to develop techniques to improve on those aspects that need strengthening.

This is precisely what the famous IRC (Intercultural Readiness Check) does! Think Manners tells you more with the following.