Even when you understand what culture is, how co-cultures work, and the ways culture influences communication, you can still have trouble communicating with people from different backgrounds. To work toward competence, be mindful of the differences discussed so far, actively seek to understand other cultures, and adapt your communication as needed.

It’s one of the most iconic moments—and images—from the civil rights era. On June 11, 1963, Governor George Wallace of Alabama, bolstered by state troopers, stood in the doorway of a University of Alabama building and blocked entry of two African American students (Vivian Malone and James A. Hood) who were attempting to attend class. Wallace had previously declared “segregation forever!” and now President John F. Kennedy had to deploy federal troops to force Wallace to allow admission. What few people know, however, is that Wallace—the man who had been a defining figure of racism—had a complete, 180-degree change of heart in the decades that followed. In fact, in March 1995, Wallace marked the 30th anniversary of the Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march (depicted in the 2014 film Selma) by holding hands with African American leaders, singing “We Shall Overcome.” He publicly stated, “May your message be heard—may your lessons never be forgotten!” (McCarthy, 1995)

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We all make judgments regarding cultural outgroupers that lead us to perceive them as distant, different, and sometimes even inferior. But like George Wallace, we have the capacity to overcome these perceptions and prejudices, and form lasting bonds with people who come from cultures vastly different from our own. The gateway to such connections is intercultural competence, the ability to communicate appropriately, effectively, and ethically with people from diverse backgrounds. You can strengthen your intercultural competence by applying the following practices: world-mindedness, attributional complexity, and communication accommodation.