Telephone 020 8295 5877
Telephone 020 8295 5877
As an L&D professional, you may be asked to equip employees with the skills to thrive in today’s global workplace. But when it comes to cultural training, the terminology can be confusing. What’s the difference between intercultural, cross-cultural, and multicultural programmes - and more importantly, which one should you invest in?
At Babel, we help organisations cut through the jargon and design solutions that fit their business challenges. Here’s how we guide our clients through the three approaches.
1. Intercultural Training: Building Global Agility
What it is: Intercultural training develops the skills employees need to adapt their behaviour when working across cultural boundaries. It’s about people-to-people interactions and learning how to flex communication, decision-making and leadership styles.
Why it matters: Employees with strong intercultural skills don’t just “get by”, instead they build trust faster, collaborate better, and avoid costly misunderstandings.
When to choose it: For global teams, international leaders, and anyone interacting regularly across borders.
2. Cross-Cultural Training: Preparing for Specific Countries
What it is: Cross-cultural training compares two or more specific cultures, offering practical insights into “how to do business” in different countries.
Why it matters: When employees relocate or work closely with clients abroad, knowing the “rules of the game” can make or break performance.
When to choose it: For international assignees, employees preparing for overseas projects or client-facing staff engaging with a particular market.
3. Multicultural Training: Creating Inclusive Global Teams
What it is: Multicultural training helps teams made up of multiple nationalities work more effectively together. It focuses on inclusivity, collaboration, and developing a shared culture.
Why it matters: Diverse teams have huge potential for innovation but only if they overcome cultural silos and build a sense of belonging.
When to choose it: For global project teams, international graduate intakes, and organisations committed to building inclusive, high-performing cultures.
How We Help L&D Leaders Get It Right
The reality is that these approaches often overlap and the most effective strategy usually blends them. At Babel, we:
Cultural competence isn’t a “nice to have” anymore, it’s a business-critical skill. By partnering with Babel, you can be confident your workforce is equipped with the right cultural skills to drive performance, collaboration, and growth worldwide.
Let’s talk about your teams
Ready to strengthen collaboration across borders? Get in touch and let’s discuss the best cultural training approach for your workforce.
📩 Email: mail@babelgroup.co.uk
📞 Phone: +44 (0)208 295 5877
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