Interculturally Competent Leadership

Members of the Diversity Leadership Council in one client organization identified behaviours of 
interculturally competent leaders and described their own leaders’ behaviours. Here is what 
they told DiversiPro:

Leadership is not only a function, it’s a practice. Leaders set the tone in organizations that aim to be inclusive. All employees should have a role in the effort, but leaders have a particular role to play. Diversity leaders challenge outdated or ineffective practices. They inspire a shared vision. They encourage and enable others to act. They set examples for others through their actions.

They “encourage the heart”.

Leaders are Interculturally Competent When They Are:

  • Open to sharing their knowledge to help others.
  • Comfortable admitting that they lack knowledge, allow themselves to be vulnerable and are willing to make mistakes; comfortable with knowing that they don’t know; curious and not afraid of their own curiosity; always learning and challenging themselves; mindful of making assumptions; ask questions; open to feedback from others and invite discussions on diversity and inclusion.

Interculturally Competent Leaders:

  • Go beyond tolerance to embrace inclusion.
  • Make systemic level changes to help the whole organization.
  • Practice transparency and openness in communications, but also respect confidentially.
  • Participate in cultural functions and encourage their teams to participate in PRIDE, Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, Indigenous Peoples Day, and others.
  • Show commitment to the journey (not just seeing diversity as the flavour of the month).
  • Match their values with their communications.

Interculturally Competent Leaders Produce Tangible Results

When both employee engagement surveys and client feedback surveys rate organizations as highly respectful and inclusive, leaders are doing something right. When employees routinely describe their work environment as respectful and caring, leaders are doing something right.

More Insights

We are in an era of tremendous change, where everything is being disrupted: governments, institutions, personal lives and the workplace. Innovation expert John Seely Brown calls it the Cambrian Moment. Things are thrown up but they eventually settle down. It is during that time of settling when small moves -- smartly and intentionally made -- can make a big difference. Hamlin Grange believes this is the Cambrian Moment of diversity and inclusion. We need to rethink our positions and attitudes about old concepts and approaches to create more inclusive workplaces, livable and workable cities and productive and relevant institutions. It's a time when we need to stop asking old questions to new audiences. Leaders must be more inclusive, individuals must get out of their comfort zones, and we all must become more interculturally competent. Five Good Ideas 1. Take an integrated approach to diversity and inclusion 2. Become more interculturally competent 3. Culture trumps strategy 4. Nurture Tempered Radicals 5. Lean into your discomforts
Five Good Ideas

We are in an era of tremendous change, where everything is being disrupted: governments, institutions, personal lives and the workplace. Innovation expert John Seely Brown calls it the Cambrian Moment.

Read More
Our Story is one

Happy to be thriving in Canada’s culture committed to advancing Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Anti-Racism, Iren Kolterman invites us all on a journey of empathy. Reflect, remember and learn from the story of Ten Women of Shiraz who wanted nothing more in life than to practice freely their Bahá’í faith….

Read More
Finding Strength in Allies: The Power of Support in Pride Movements


Pride. What does it mean for me? It may sound simple, but it means I am free to be me.
I remember the first time I went to the Pride Parade in Toronto. Coincidentally it was World Pride as well—the first-time World Pride was held in North America. I was wandering around the different merchants and booths before the parade and ran into a group of people who were looking for volunteers to march at the head of the parade, carrying the flags of the world. I jumped at the chance. 


Read More

What to include IDEA in your business?

Reach out to us today and get a complimentary IDEA review.

Skip to content