Cultural Intelligence
Working Confidently in Different Cultures
Today's workplaces are more multicultural than ever, and it's normal to work with people from many different places and backgrounds. This has opened up many new opportunities – but it's also created some challenges.
Cultural differences aren't just about nationality, ethnicity or belief. Many of us work in multigenerational organizations, alongside younger or older colleagues who have cultural references, assumptions and attitudes that are very different from our own. And cultural clashes can even emerge between departments and teams in the same organization.
All of this means that we need to be better at understanding and operating in a wide variety of cultures. That's where Cultural Intelligence, or also CQ, comes in.
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is the ability to recognize and adapt to cultural differences. It can give you the confidence to operate successfully in a wide range of settings.
Culture doesn't just refer to nationality, ethnicity or religion. It can also apply to social groups, business organizations, and the departments, age groups and teams within them.
CQ combines head (knowledge and understanding), body (actions), and heart (confidence and commitment).
People with high CQ use all three of these elements to monitor and moderate their actions. Without making quick judgments, or falling back on stereotypes, they can interpret what's happening in any cultural setting and adjust their behavior accordingly.
According to author Dr David Livermore, culturally intelligent people exhibit:
- CQ Drive: The motivation to learn about new cultures.
- CQ Knowledge: Understanding how cultures influence what people say and do.
- CQ Strategy: Having a plan to respond to cultural differences.
- CQ Action: Behaving in culturally-sensitive ways, including handling any difficulties that arise.
All in all,
people with high EQ pick up on people's feelings, wants and needs, and understand how their own emotions and behavior affect others. But they need additional skills if they're to understand the cultural factors at play and adapt their own behavior accordingly.
Developing your CQ allows you to be attuned to the values, beliefs and attitudes of people from different cultures, and to respond with informed empathy and real understanding.
