ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the principles necessary for effective cross-cultural communication. The increase in ethnic and cultural diversity in the United States in the past decade has been well documented in numerous sources. Data from the 1990 census show that the nation has experienced profound and rapid growth of "minority" groups, to the point that, collectively, minorities will be the majority shortly after the turn of the century. To be ethnically competent is defined as being able to conduct one's professional work in a way that is congruent with the behavior and expectations that members of a distinctive ethnic and cultural group or both recognize as appropriate among themselves. Organizations and individuals concerned about increasing ethnic and cultural sensitivity and awareness typically begin by examining their own cultural background, experiences, biases and prejudices with the goal of understanding how the beliefs and behaviors influence the way they view the world and interact with others.
