Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost Your CQ
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INNOVATION
ENTERPRISE TECH
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is
An Important Predictor Of
Success. Here’s How To
Boost Your CQ
Bernard Marr Contributor
Sep 5, 2022, 12:46am EDT
I work with brands from all around the world, and I've noticed
that organizations are – thankfully, finally – becoming much
more diverse. Perhaps you’ve noticed the same thing. Perhaps
your own colleagues and clients increasingly represent a broader
range of cultures, ethnicities, economic statuses, and so on.
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost
Your CQ ADOBE STOCK
It makes sense, then, that cultural intelligence is fast becoming a
highly desirable attribute in the workplace. But what exactly is
cultural intelligence, why does it matter for workplace success,
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Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost Your CQ
and how can you become more culturally intelligent? Read on to
find out.
What is cultural intelligence, and why does it matter?
Cultural intelligence refers to our ability to work effectively in
culturally diverse situations. Someone who is culturally
intelligent is not just aware of diversity; they're able to relate to
(and, where appropriate, adapt to) people of different races,
genders, cultures, ages, religions, sexual orientations, political
beliefs, socioeconomic statuses, (dis)abilities, and so on. This
ability to work successfully with people who have different
backgrounds and life experiences is crucial. In the 21st-century
workplace, it's a vital part of being an effective team player and a
good leader.
In fact, some experts argue that cultural intelligence is such an
important predictor of success in the workplace; it's right up
there with cognitive intelligence (IQ) and emotional intelligence
(EQ). For this reason, cultural intelligence is often referred to as
“cultural quotient” or CQ, reflecting its importance alongside EQ
and IQ.
But what does CQ look like in practice? Culturally intelligent
people are often:
· Curious and open-minded
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· Empathetic and emotionally intelligent
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Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost Your CQ
· Collaborative, and able to work well with others
· Effective communicators
· Adaptable and flexible, and able to adapt their behavior when
needed
How to improve your cultural intelligence
Many organizations are investing in training and education in
this area. But what can you do as an individual to boost your CQ?
A good starting point is to look at the above traits and find ways
to cultivate your skills in those areas. For example, you can work
on your adaptability by pushing yourself outside of your comfort
zone and putting yourself in new situations. Or you can become
more empathetic by routinely putting yourself in other people’s
shoes.
Looking beyond those traits, here are some simple and practical
steps you can take to become more culturally intelligent:
1. Firstly, remember that no culture is superior to another.
Underneath our cultural beliefs, religious beliefs, political beliefs,
or whatever, people largely want similar things – to live a decent
life, do a good job, be happy, have a family (in all the forms that
may take), have a safe roof over our head, achieve some level of
financial security, cultivate friendships and relationships, and so
on. I’m not advocating downplaying the many ways in which
people differ – recognizing our differences is important – but we
should also recognize that our own culture and experiences aren’t
necessarily “better” than others. Just different.
2. Think about the sorts of biases that may narrow your vision.
For example, how does your own cultural background influence
your worldview? Think also about the biases that may exist in
your organization.
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Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost Your CQ
3. Have lots of interesting conversations with people who have
different experiences and beliefs than your own.
4. Practice active listening. Becoming a better listener can help
you understand where people are coming from and deepen your
knowledge.
5. Consume content from around the world. I like to read news
stories and watch news broadcasts from countries like India and
China because it helps me understand how other cultures view
the world. You can also watch movies or read books from other
countries to widen your worldview.
6. Watch a TV show or read books or articles that demonstrate
opposing viewpoints. For example, if your politics lean towards
the liberal, you might tune into Fox News – it probably won't
sway you from your political beliefs (in fact, it may cement them
even further!), but it’ll certainly help you understand what
matters to those at the other end of the spectrum.
7. Go to a religious service for a denomination that's different
from your own.
8. Where possible, immerse yourself in different cultures and
perspectives. If you travel to a new country, for example, get out
there and wander through the food markets, ride public transport
and generally soak up the culture (it’s more effective than purely
reading about it).
Learn more about cultural intelligence and other essential skills
in my new book, Future Skills: The 20 Skills and Competencies
Everyone Needs to Succeed in a Digital World, Written for
anyone who wants to surf the wave of digital transformation –
rather than be drowned by it – the book explores why these vital
future skills matter, and how to develop them. Also, make sure to
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Cultural Intelligence (CQ) Is An Important Predictor Of Success. Here’s How To Boost Your CQ
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Bernard Marr
Bernard Marr is an internationally best-selling author, popular keynote
speaker, futurist, and a strategic business & technology advisor to
governments... Read More
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