Today, I spoke with Arjan Verdooren, an intercultural communication consultant and lecturer. He is also the co-author, together with Dr Edwin Hoffman, of the book ‘Diversity Competence - Cultures Don’t Meet, People Do’, which is a deep dive into improving our individual and collective intercultural competence. Arjan has authored various other publications on intercultural communication, intercultural competence, cultural diversity, and multiculturalism. We touched on many topics, such as the origins of ‘studying’ culture; cultural relativism, universalism, and pluralism; meaning behind ‘cultures don’t meet, people do’; the TOPOI model; building rapport and how to reduce intercultural miscommunication.

Additional episodes that explore the importance of dialogue and communication are:

John Blaxland and Qinduo Xu - On AUKUS, US/China relations and growing tensions

Stephanie Speck - Strategic Communication: A Tool For Change

Adam Cooper - Mediation, Diplomacy and Digital Conflict

Roger Noble - A Major General’s Perspective


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Full show notes:

My guest today is Arjan Verdooren, who has a background in communication studies and works as a consultant and lecturer in the field of intercultural communication and competence. He is associated with the Royal Tropical Institute, a knowledge centre in Amsterdam and until recently lectured at the Master in Communication program at the University of Gothenburg. He is the co-author, together with Dr Edwin Hoffman, of the book ‘Diversity Competence - Cultures Don’t Meet, People Do’, which is a deep dive into improving our individual and collective intercultural competence. Arjan has authored various other publications on intercultural communication, intercultural competence, cultural diversity, and multiculturalism.

Throughout the fifteen years he has spent in the field, he has consulted with various organisations ranging from state departments to multinationals and NGO’s on harnessing more effective international and intercultural cooperation. He is a frequent speaker on these topics and is someone who connects theory with practitioners facing intercultural situations every day in the field.  

Some of the topics we covered are:

Arjan’s entry into the field of intercultural communication

Where the idea of ‘culture’ come from

Cultural relativism, universalism, and pluralism

Dealing with ethical challenges of cultural relativism

Meaning behind ‘cultures don’t meet, people do’

Defining ‘culture’

The TOPOI model of communication

Cultural models as refence points

Power and utility of narratives we tell ourselves and others

Importance of building rapport

Focusing on why people do what they do

Use of TOPOI in a real-life setting

Best way to prepare for intercultural engagement