Cultural Competency

In order to understand others and their culture it is important to first understand and embrace our own culture. Cultural competency involves embracing our own culture while entering into the culture of others. Cultural competency can be described on a continuum. The figure below describes this continuum. It is important as educators and leaders to look beyond objective culture and seek to understand subjective culture and what drives objective culture. We should always listen to learn and not be too quick to respond. As I seek to move toward adaptation on the Intercultural Development Continuum, I immerse myself in groups that are different than I am and I seek to learn more about other people's culture and what drives them.