what is the definition of cultural intelligence

Cultural intelligence or cultural quotient (CQ

) is the ability to relate and work effectively across cultures, bearing similarity to the term cultural agility. The term has been used in business, education, government, and academic research contexts.

Full Answer

What is cultural intelligence and why it's important?

Cultural intelligence is more than just cultural awareness and sensitivity, which are also vital within a corporation; it is the ability to relate to culturally diverse situations, as well as work effectively in them.

What does cultural intelligence stand for?

Cultural Intelligence, cultural quotient or CQ, is a term used in business, education, government and academic research. Cultural intelligence can be understood as the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures. Originally, the term cultural intelligence and the abbreviation "CQ" was developed by the research done by Soon Ang and Linn Van Dyne as a researched-based way of measuring and predicting intercultural performance.

What are the three components of cultural intelligence?

What are three sources of Cultural Intelligence?

• The Head / Cognitive. Rote learning about the beliefs, habits and taboos of foreign cultures, will not work well.
• The Body / Physical.
• The Heart / Emotional /motivational.

What are some examples of cultural intelligence?

Cultural intelligence links to emotional intelligence but goes a bit further. People with high emotional intelligence can pick up on the emotions, wants and needs of others. People with high cultural intelligence are attuned to the values, beliefs and styles of communication of people from different cultures.

What is the meaning of cultural intelligence?

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.

What is cultural intelligence and why is it important?

Cultural intelligence helps develop an in-depth understanding of working styles in other cultures. A culturally intelligent workforce will demonstrate better tolerance, trust and understanding of global colleagues.

What are the 3 components of cultural intelligence?

Cultural intelligence, or CQ, is the ability to make sense of unfamiliar contexts and then blend in. It has three components--the cognitive, the physical, and the emotional/motivational.

What are the 4 components of cultural intelligence?

The framework for cultural intelligence. It consists of four parts: knowledge, strategic thinking, motivation, and behaviors.

What is the benefit of cultural intelligence?

Benefits of Cultural Intelligence Creating productive relationships based on giving importance to people's differences. Communicating effectively in different cultural settings. Establishing a common ground. Maximizing teamwork in groups where people act and think differently.

What is another common term for cultural intelligence?

Cultural intelligence, also known within business as "cultural quotient" or "CQ", is a theory within management and organisational psychology, positing that understanding the impact of an individual's cultural background on their behaviour is essential for effective business, and measuring an individual's ability to ...

What are the ABC's of cultural intelligence?

Cultural intelligence can be expressed as the ABCs of CI: acquire (knowledge), build (strategic thinking), contemplate (motivation), and do (behavior). Cultural intelligence is more comprehensive than emotional and social intelligences.

What are the five developmental stages of cultural intelligence?

Here are the 5 essential steps that you need to take to develop your cultural intelligence:Know yourself better. Start with yourself. ... Grow your awareness of others. Learn to change perspectives. ... Interact mindfully. ... Build bridges. ... Never stop learning.

How do you use cultural intelligence?

Five Ways to Build Cultural IntelligenceBe curious and interested in learning about other cultures. ... Develop an awareness of self in relation to others. ... Make your mind a clean slate. ... Develop an awareness of your biases towards other cultures and traditions. ... Put yourself in situations with people from different cultures.

What are the 6 stages of cultural competence?

The Cross framework emphasizes that the process of achieving cultural competency occurs along a continuum and sets forth six stages including: 1) cultural destructiveness, 2) cultural incapacity, 3) cultural blindness, 4) cultural pre-competence, 5) cultural competency and 6) cultural proficiency.

What are the 5 cultural competence?

Have the capacity to (1) value diversity, (2) conduct self-assessment, (3) manage the dynamics of difference, (4) acquire and institutionalize cultural knowledge, and (5) adapt to diversity and the cultural contexts of communities they serve.

Can cultural intelligence be learned?

Just as you learn different skills in the workplace, such as stress management, self-motivation and emotional intelligence, it is equally important to improve your cultural intelligence. You can practice this by taking a cultural intelligence test, interacting with people and simply observing.

Why is cultural intelligence important in today's workplace?

Employees who possess a high level of cultural intelligence play an important role in bridging divides and knowledge gaps in an organization: educating their peers about different cultures; transferring knowledge between otherwise disparate groups; helping to build interpersonal connections and smooth the interpersonal ...

What is cultural intelligence How important is it to doing business globally?

It's more about empathizing and actively working to understand customs and norms of cultures outside of your own. It is an extremely valuable social skill in an increasingly global world and one that businesses should seek to develop in employees and leaders.

Why is cultural intelligence important for an effective leader?

If a leader has cultural intelligence, they are more ready to effectively lead and work with culturally diverse people. Similarly, cultural intelligence measures an outsider's ability to come into the culture of a workplace and easily fit in, and work well with the team.

What leads to cultural intelligence?

Cultural exposure, defined here as experiences related to a region that aid in developing a familiarity with or understanding of the norms, values, and beliefs of that region, is likely to contribute to higher cultural intelligence.

What is Cultural Intelligence? Why is it important?

Cultural Intelligence refers to the skill to relate and work effectively in culturally diverse situations. It’s the capability to cross boundaries and prosper in multiple cultures.

Gaining cultural intelligence adds a competitive edge to your business

This is a positive change for businesses as it means greater access to more resources, information and talent. Communications technology has also radically changed the face of ‘global businesses’ as it is no longer just the remit of a few large companies.

Why do we need Cultural Intelligence?

Big problems can no longer - if they ever could - be solved by one person , one culture, or even one continent, operating alone. So leading across boundaries through collaboration is crucial.

Why is Flex important to cultural intelligence?

A well defined Core and Flex, kept under constant review is key to Cultural Intelligence because it equips us with the ability to experience new situations and adapt to other people without fear of losing ourselves – changing and accommodating without ever compromising on what matters.

What is the core of a person?

Our Core comprises the things that define us: our own personal 'over my dead body' list. These are things that won't change (or won't change easily). Their solidity is our strength. In our Flex are things that we can choose to change - things that we can adapt to circumstances, or to other people or other cultures. Their fluidity is equally our strength.

What is the secret of innovation?

The secret of innovation is that it comes best from well-led discord. The enemy is 'group-think'. Culturally diverse groups - led by leaders with CQ - see things differently. Innovation needs people who actively seek to encourage difference. To prod it, push it, test it, enjoy it and thrive on it.

Is cultural intelligence important for business?

Today, many businesses can be described as global – even small businesses and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of sophisticated advances in communication technology. And if you are looking to expand your business overseas and take your company global then Cultural Intelligence is vital.

What are the three components of cultural intelligence?

Peter’s three difficulties correspond to the three components of cultural intelligence: the cognitive; the physical; and the emotional/motivational. Cultural intelligence resides in the body and the heart, as well as the head.

What is the purpose of the exhibit "Diagnosing Your Cultural Intelligence"?

The exhibit “Diagnosing Your Cultural Intelligence” allows you to assess the three facets of your own cultural intelligence and learn where your relative strengths and weaknesses lie. Attaining a high absolute score is not the objective. Diagnosing Your Cultural Intelligence.

How does mimicry help in China?

Mimicry definitely puts hosts and guests at ease, facilitates communication, and builds trust. Mimicry is not, however, the same as pure imitation, which can be interpreted as mocking. Ming, a manager at the Shanghai regional power authority, relates, “When I deal with foreigners, I try to adopt their style of speaking and interacting. I find that simple things like keeping the right distance from the other person or making eye contact or speaking English at a speed that matches the other person’s puts them at ease and makes it easier to make a connection. This really makes a difference to newcomers to China because they often are a bit threatened by the place.”

Why is CQ important?

In a world where crossing boundaries is routine, CQ becomes a vitally important aptitude and skill , and not just for international bankers and borrowers. Cultural intelligence: an outsider’s seemingly natural ability to interpret someone’s unfamiliar and ambiguous gestures the way that person’s compatriots would.

What is the most alien to a culture?

Those who fully embody the habits and norms of their native culture may be the most alien when they enter a culture not their own. Sometimes, people who are somewhat detached from their own culture can more easily adopt the mores and even the body language of an unfamiliar host. They’re used to being observers and making a conscious effort to fit in.

Can cultural intelligence be developed?

Unlike other aspects of personality, cultural intelligence can be developed in psychologically healthy and professionally competent people. In our work with Deutsche Bank, we introduced a program to improve managers’ work relationships with outsourcing partners in India. We developed a two-and-a-half day program that first identified a participant’s strengths and weaknesses and then provided a series of steps, which we outline below, to enhance their CQ.

Is cultural intelligence related to emotional intelligence?

Cultural intelligence is related to emotional intelligence, but it picks up where emotional intelligence leaves off. A person with high emotional intelligence grasps what makes us human and at the same time what makes each of us different from one another.

Why do we need Cultural Intelligence?from commonpurpose.org

Big problems can no longer - if they ever could - be solved by one person , one culture, or even one continent, operating alone. So leading across boundaries through collaboration is crucial.

Why is CQ Important?from hbr.org

CQ gives you a model for diagnosing and responding to complex intercultural situations on the fly. Rather than memorizing facts about different cultures and applying stereotypes, you can use CQ to succeed in any intercultural setting. See additional CQ benefits.

How can cultural intelligence help a team?from indeed.com

Team leaders with enhanced cultural intelligence can manage, solve external conflicts and institute policies that create a supportive environment for team members and partners.

What is CQ in education?from culturalq.com

CQ gives you a model for diagnosing and responding to complex intercultural situations on the fly. Rather than memorizing facts about different cultures and applying stereotypes, you can use CQ to succeed in any intercultural setting. See additional CQ benefits. Cultural Intelligence for Companies. Cultural Intelligence for Educational Institutions.

What fields involve culturally diverse individuals and situations?from culturalq.com

Music, sports, parenting, research, politics, filmmaking, service…Virtually all fields involve encounters with culturally diverse individuals and situations. The greater your cultural intelligence, the more likely that you successfully adjust to the cultures you encounter and that your interactions will be effective.

What is CQ in science?from culturalq.com

CQ: An Essential Skill. Cultural intelligence (CQ) is a critical part of setting yourself apart in today’s globalized world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and innovation. It’s the ability to relate and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds and it goes beyond existing notions of cultural sensitivity ...

How does mimicry help in China?from hbr.org

Mimicry definitely puts hosts and guests at ease, facilitates communication, and builds trust. Mimicry is not, however, the same as pure imitation, which can be interpreted as mocking. Ming, a manager at the Shanghai regional power authority, relates, “When I deal with foreigners, I try to adopt their style of speaking and interacting. I find that simple things like keeping the right distance from the other person or making eye contact or speaking English at a speed that matches the other person’s puts them at ease and makes it easier to make a connection. This really makes a difference to newcomers to China because they often are a bit threatened by the place.”

What is Cultural Intelligence?

Cultural intelligence is popularly referred to as CQ for cultural quotient. It is considered very important for the success of a business as it helps in providing access to a higher number of resources. The employees can relate to working in situations that are culturally different from theirs.

How does cultural intelligence help a business?

Cultural intelligence boosts the competitive edge in a business. Cultural intelligence helps to improve communication in a workplace that automatically boosts cooperation and teamwork. Cultural intelligence increases the performance, efficiency, and productivity of an organization as a whole. Cultural intelligence leads to innovation ...

How can cultural intelligence help a multicultural community?

Gaining knowledge about various cultures and backgrounds can help to survive , grow and flourish in this multicultural community and this is possible by encouraging cultural intelligence in all the organizations

How to be more culturally intelligent?

Do not be judgmental, and try to adjust your mindset to integrate concepts of other cultures. Accept the differences that exist between different cultures as normal. Acceptance creates empathy and helps to achieve cultural intelligence. 5. Breaking away from personal bias.

How to help an individual realize how their culture influences other people's behaviour and mindset?

Be mindful of differences and similarities. This realization will help an individual to realize how their culture also influences other people’s behaviour and mindset.

How to develop cross cultural skills?

It is easy to develop cross-cultural skills with the help of experimental learning and being mindful of your own as well as counterpart’s behavior and reactions.

Can you assess a person from a cultural perspective?

Never assess a person from a cultural viewpoint as it can create negative assumptions. If you are looking for ways to develop cultural intelligence, then be objective and observe other cultures with an open mind.

What Is Cultural Intelligence?

Earley and Ang defined Cultural Intelligence as the ability to adapt to new cultural settings.

Why is cultural intelligence important?

There are many reasons why it's beneficial to develop your Cultural Intelligence. First, it helps you to work effectively with anyone who's different from you.

What are the components of CQ?

An influential Harvard Business Review article identified three key components of CQ, naming them Head, Body and Heart: 1 Head is the knowledge and understanding that you need good CQ. This comes, in part, from observation and research. But you also need strategies for gathering new information – and the ability to use those strategies to recognise a culture's shared understandings. That will enable you to adapt your decision making and communication. 2 Body means translating cultural information into visible actions. These are usually the clearest ways in which your CQ is seen by others. You show it in your gestures, your body language, and the way you carry out culturally significant tasks. 3 Heart. To have high CQ, you need to be self-assured, not afraid to make honest mistakes, and confident enough to keep improving by tackling new cultural situations.

What does "body" mean in CQ?

Body means translating cultural information into visible actions. These are usually the clearest ways in which your CQ is seen by others. You show it in your gestures, your body language, and the way you carry out culturally significant tasks. Heart.

What is drive in culture?

Drive is the motivation to learn about and respond to a different culture. People who don't care what shapes or informs a "society" are unlikely to adapt well to it. But when you make the effort to learn about a new culture, your mind starts to open up to new possibilities.

Why is confidence important in CQ?

Confidence is vital to CQ, because unfamiliar scenarios can be challenging, especially at first. Build self-confidence by setting and achieving small goals initially, and by proactively putting yourself into new situations.

Why is CQ important?

But wherever you're based, high CQ is valuable when you need to build rapport with a new group of people, adjust to the way another department works, or operate within a cross-functional team . CQ incorporates plenty of transferable skills, too, such as self-reflection, open-mindedness, and the ability to anticipate problems.

Cultural intelligence examples

It’s easy to see why large, multi-national corporations must hone their cultural intelligence, but how does it relate to small businesses? The truth is that it comes into play in every single interaction you have. Your customers, employees, and even suppliers could be from a different cultural background than you.

How to improve cultural intelligence in your business

Improving your cultural intelligence must be an active choice. And in reality, you’ll never stop learning. The world is becoming an increasingly global community, even within the small business sector.

What is cultural intelligence?

About Cultural Intelligence. CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, or CQ, is a globally recognized way of assessing and improving effectiveness in culturally diverse situations. It’s rooted in rigorous, academic research conducted across more than 100 countries.

How many capabilities are there in cultural intelligence?

Cultural intelligence takes a different approach. Based on more than twenty years of research across over 100 countries, we know that there are four capabilities that need to be developed in order to relate and work effectively with people from different backgrounds.

What is CQ in education?

CQ gives you a model for diagnosing and responding to complex intercultural situations on the fly. Rather than memorizing facts about different cultures and applying stereotypes, you can use CQ to succeed in any intercultural setting. See additional CQ benefits. Cultural Intelligence for Companies. Cultural Intelligence for Educational Institutions.

What fields involve culturally diverse individuals and situations?

Music, sports, parenting, research, politics, filmmaking, service…Virtually all fields involve encounters with culturally diverse individuals and situations. The greater your cultural intelligence, the more likely that you successfully adjust to the cultures you encounter and that your interactions will be effective.

What is CQ in science?

CQ: An Essential Skill. Cultural intelligence (CQ) is a critical part of setting yourself apart in today’s globalized world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and innovation. It’s the ability to relate and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds and it goes beyond existing notions of cultural sensitivity ...

What is CQ in the workplace?

Employers: CQ is the strategic link between a diverse workforce and diverse customers.

What is CQ in business?

Employers: CQ is the strategic link between a diverse workforce and diverse customers. Job Seekers: 90% of executives are looking for people who have cultural intelligence. CQ provides a competitive edge for landing your dream job.

How to Measure Cultural Intelligence?

Cultural intelligence is different than the IQ concept, for instance, through the fact that it cannot be quantified with a score. There’s no scale to use when measuring the CQ. Furthermore, it is rather unproductive to think of this concept as merely a number. Instead, you should consider it a skill that can be continuously improved and developed all our lives. However, Julia Middleton, one of the theorists that helped define the notion, came up with an idea. In her view, this is a skill we can achieve by balancing our core (the core values that represent us) and flex (how flexible are we when it comes to getting out of our comfort zone). Here you can see her explaining the Eight Poles assessment she came up with for the CQ:

What is the second element of cultural intelligence?

The second element of the cultural intelligence concept refers to a set of skills that are necessary for an intercultural effectiveness, such as: Empathy – putting yourself in the other person’s shoes; Relational skills – talking and interacting with people from a different culture;

What is cultural metacognition?

Also called cultural mindfulness, this metacognition refers to the way in which a person controls their own thinking and learning activities when it comes to cultural experience. This means they are aware of the cultural context, they analyze the situations and act accordingly.

Why is it important to be culturally diverse?

People everywhere are constantly looking for new ideas, new ways, new technologies, ventures, and processes. The advantage of a culturally diverse group is the fact that it offers new perspectives.

What is perception acuity?

Perceptual acuity – understanding the other’s feelings and meanings.

What is relational skills?

Relational skills – talking and interacting with people from a different culture;

Who developed the concept of CQ?

Then, the CQ idea was developed by David Livermore in his work called Leading with Cultural Intelligence.