E22 | How to Develop Cultural Competence

In this episode we dig into Chapter 4—contracting, agreement, and creating conditions for cultural competence. Damian and Elaine define culture (beyond nationality: age, generation, faith, ability, subcultures) and explain why diverse teams outperform homogeneous ones: more creativity, stronger problem-solving, broader market insight, higher engagement, and a healthier employer brand.

We unpack practical leader behaviors—curiosity before judgment, avoiding stereotyping, learning local norms, apologizing when you err, and deliberately contracting team norms so differences become productive rather than divisive. Real-world examples (including cross-cultural surprises with Japanese colleagues and coaching subcultures) illustrate the paradox: learn cultural patterns, yet treat every person as unique. Leaders should set clear agreements, model cultural humility, and create safe spaces for dialogue so diversity fuels innovation rather than friction.

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