Choosing an intercultural services provider is no easy task. Of course, you are looking for quality at a fair price. But how can you recognize the quality you want? Here are some criteria that may help you in your decision making process:

 

If you are going to ask the service provider only one question, then this one is the crucial:  “How do you make specific statements about the features of different cultures, without reinforcing stereotypes?”

 

If you want go a little further, find out if the coach or consultant delivering the service has the following skills and experiences. They are essential for good intercultural coaches and consultants:

 

¨ A minimum of 2 years experience living and working abroad (Where and when?)

 

¨ Balanced view of this experience, including the return to the home culture.

 

¨ Ability to reflect on personal experiences and to learn from them (What did you learn from your international experiences?)

 

¨ Theoretical and conceptual knowledge (Which models and concepts do you use?)
- Definitions of culture, research on culture differences
- Cultural learning processes
- Current socio-economic and political developments
  (global, country-specific)

¨ Ethical behavior
- Non-judgmental towards values of different cultures
- Respectful towards learners’ experiences
- Ability to assess risks involved in learning activities

¨ Training skills
- Able to define clear and relevant training objectives
- Flexible use of training methods
- Balances personal authenticity with responsiveness
  to learners’ needs

Quality

A buyer’s guide to service quality. Here is what to look for in cross-cultural coaches and consultants.