Trainer competencies: The missing conceptual link in orientation

This article presents a conceptualization of trainer competencies hypothesized by the author to be associated with effective cross-cultural orientation, training, and education. Whereas the literature on cross-cultural training has become increasingly well-informed and sophisticated (especially with respect to pedagogy, design, and administration), much less attention has been given to the competencies that characterize the effective cross-cultural trainer. By providing a conceptual framework that articulates specific cognitive (knowledge) foundations, behavioral (performance) competencies, and personal attributes, this article attempts to fill a gap in the literature. The central ethical issues facing trainers are also identified so that cross-cultural orientation can be viewed in its moral as well as pragmatic contexts. The article focuses on trainer competencies in three categories: the cognitive domain (knowledge), the behavioral domain (performance), and the personal domain (individual attributes). The article concludes with some reflections on the training of trainers, an issue of contemporary significance for this field.