Intercultural communication helps people from diverse backgrounds understand their differences and find common ground. It helps us to develop cultural sensitivity, patience, respect, and empathy. It also helps us develop self-awareness of how we react and communicate with people from other cultures, and how our own culture has shaped us. As we become self-aware and culturally sensitive, we develop emotional intelligence, as well as adapt our communication styles to promote clarity, harmony, and collaboration. If we do not, we risk confusion, weak relationships, and competition in a cross-cultural context. Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand, use and manage emotions. Finally, intercultural communication enables us to be positive in cross-cultural communication encounters.

Teachers and students that possess intercultural communication skills can communicate effectively with colleagues from different cultures. They are also able to avoid and mitigate tensions in communal class activities.