Work effectively across differences in background, perspective, and identity — and actively build inclusive relationships.
Real Workplace Scenario
During a team meeting, a coworker makes an offhand comment — it's framed as a joke, but the tone is clearly aimed at something tied to another team member's background. The team member being referenced laughs awkwardly but looks uncomfortable. Nobody else reacts. You're sitting right there.
What goes through your mind? What do you do?
Every
real workplace is diverse. You will work with people who are different from you — in background, identity, perspective, and experience.
Better
diverse teams make better decisions when people feel included. Cultural competence is what makes that possible.
Noticed
How you treat people who are different from you is always noticed — by everyone in the room.
Cultural competence is the understanding and ability to navigate differences in background, perspective, culture, and identity — and to actively build relationships that are respectful, equitable, and inclusive. It's not about pretending differences don't exist. It's about engaging across them with curiosity and respect.
In a workplace, this includes being aware of your own biases, being genuinely curious about people's experiences different from yours, avoiding assumptions, and speaking up when something feels wrong — even when it's uncomfortable.
The NACE framework calls this Equity & Inclusion:
"Demonstrate awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills to equitably engage with individuals from diverse cultures and perspectives. Actively solicit and incorporate feedback from multiple cultural perspectives to make inclusive decisions."
Return to the opening scenario: the coworker makes the comment, the other team member looks uncomfortable, nobody else reacts. As an intern, what's your most appropriate response?
Think about the placement you're entering (or will enter). Consider: What perspectives, backgrounds, or generations might be different from yours in that workplace? What assumptions might you carry into the environment — about how people communicate, what professionalism looks like, or what humor is appropriate? What's one thing you want to be actively aware of or curious about when you walk in?
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