eBook: Intercultural Intelligence

handbook

This handbook helps staff and leaders build intercultural awareness and skills for today’s diverse workplaces. While designed for the Community Disability Services Sector, its modules, case studies, and reflection tools are valuable for any team working in multicultural settings to strengthen communication, teamwork, and inclusive service delivery.

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Practical Learning Tools

Six modules with case studies, charts, and reflection questions that make complex intercultural concepts easy to apply in daily work.
Inclusive Team Strategies

Strategies for communication, power dynamics, and cultural awareness to strengthen teamwork and reduce misunderstandings in diverse workplaces.
Broad Workplace Relevance

Designed for disability services but adaptable to any sector, making it a versatile resource for training, onboarding, and professional development.

Building a Skilled Workforce Through Essential Skills

Project description

In partnership with the Alberta Council of Disability Services (ACDS) and with funding from the Government of Alberta, AWES led a project to address workforce skill gaps in Calgary’s disability services sector. A needs assessment identified key challenges in intercultural communication, writing, and thinking skills. To respond, AWES and ACDS developed and piloted targeted training, including an Intercultural Specialist Course, writing workshops, and a thinking skills workshop. Two sector-specific resources: the Intercultural Intelligence Handbook and a train-the-trainer manual were created for this training and tested with participants across the pilot sites. The project far exceeded expectations, reaching 197 participants—more than double the original target. Results showed stronger intercultural competence, improved workplace communication and documentation, and better problem-solving confidence. Agencies reported positive changes in human resource practices, team dynamics, and service delivery. The project built lasting tools and capacity for a more skilled and inclusive workforce across Alberta’s disability services sector. Published in 2015.

Unlock strategies to thrive in diverse workplaces:

Build awareness of cultural values, communication styles, and workplace expectations
Apply strategies and reflection tools to manage conflict and strengthen collaboration
Provide more inclusive and culturally competent support for clients and colleagues

Equip yourself and your team with the tools for inclusive, effective workplaces.

Get your Intercultural Intelligence handbook today.

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Testimonials

“How do you create an inclusive and culturally competent organization? Acknowledging cultural differences in the workplace is our reality. This resource… brings the disabilities sector and our workplace closer to valuing all individual differences… What a tremendous gift for the disabilities sector.”

Helene De Klerk, Executive Director

“This resource will go a long way to promote an effective and inclusive multicultural workplace. It is well designed to assist in resolving the unspoken conflicts and assumptions of the Canadian multicultural workplace. It will assist readers to understand that no culture is superior to any other culture.”

Patrick Otakpor, Practitioner

“In today’s Community Disability Services Sector, engaged, committed and productive teams require each staff member to work intelligently across the different cultures in our workforce. This resource will assist both front-line workers and leadership teams to develop the intercultural knowledge, skills and attitudes to effectively work together.”

Bruce Skorobohach, Director

“It has not only changed the way I look at things, but has made me to be a better person and improved the way I communicate. I feel more confident and integrated into the Canadian work society where production and excellence is the goal.”

Esther Ebune, Practitioner

“Everybody in this sector should make themselves acquainted with this resource… This resource promotes awareness and understanding of cultural differences to enhance the working environment and services… It should become an essential part of mandatory training for any disability service provider in our multicultural society.”

Magda Burchacki, Practitioner

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