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.
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 and awareness. With cultural intelligence, you’ll know how to strategically use cultural differences to come up with more innovative solutions.
In culturally diverse situations, CQ predicts…
- Personal Adjustment and Adaptability
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Negotiation Effectiveness
- Trust, Idea Sharing, and Innovation
- Leadership Effectiveness
- Profitability and Cost-Savings
What is CQ?
Most cultural competence programs focus on teaching information about different cultures (e.g. Indians versus Germans; Millennials vs. Boomers). 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.
Cultural Intelligence begins with CQ Drive—the curiosity and motivation needed to work well with others. Next is CQ Knowledge—understanding the kinds of differences that describe one group versus the next, without resorting to stereotyping specific cultures. Third is CQ Strategy—learning how to plan effectively in light of cultural differences. And finally is CQ Action—being able to adapt behavior when the situation requires it.
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The team at CQ Center has taught me more than you can imagine about these dimensions of difference and how to utilize such intelligence to produce sustainable innovation tied to business growth. I personally experience the results daily and do as much as we can to advance growth and learning in this area. My advice: go CQ, know CQ, grow CQ, be CQ.
Learn More About Cultural Intelligence
David Livermore, PhD, and Founding Partner of the Cultural Intelligence Center walks us through a scenario about the importance of CQ. He also explains why CQ is so important and the role CQ plays in our every day lives.
DID YOU KNOW: Dave has written nine books on cultural intelligence and global leadership and has worked with companies, governments, and non-profits in more than 100 countries. He speaks at several international conferences annually. You can learn more about Dave Livermore by visiting his website located at DavidLivermore.com.
White Paper: The Inclusive Culture Pyramid
Exhaustive research clearly confirms that having a mix of people in an organization is not enough to create better outcomes, you need an inclusive culture too; and the benefits of having both are tangible.
Why is CQ Important?
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.
Benefits of CQ For Companies
- Success in culturally diverse markets
- Speed and efficiency when working across borders
- Effective short-term and long-term global assignments
- Becoming an employer of choice
- Profitability and cost savings
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global virtual team effectiveness
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Educational Institutions
- Students, faculty, and staff with high intercultural competence
- High quality Interactions with diverse others
- A broad range of career opportunities
- A diverse and inclusive campus or school environment
- Transformational study abroad programs
- Recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff
- Tangible and intangible efficiencies and cost savings
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Government
- Enhanced communication across cultures
- Security and readiness for personnel and citizens
- Equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Meeting regulatory requirements
- Cost savings and efficiencies
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global team effectiveness
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Everyone
- Global Citizens: CQ is the missing link between thinking globally and acting locally.
- Communities of Faith: CQ enables religious groups to respectfully engage with people from other cultural and religious backgrounds.
- 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
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.
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Companies
- Success in culturally diverse markets
- Speed and efficiency when working across borders
- Effective short-term and long-term global assignments
- Becoming an employer of choice
- Profitability and cost savings
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global virtual team effectiveness
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Educational Institutions
- Students, faculty, and staff with high intercultural competence
- High quality Interactions with diverse others
- A broad range of career opportunities
- A diverse and inclusive campus or school environment
- Transformational study abroad programs
- Recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff
- Tangible and intangible efficiencies and cost savings
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Government
- Enhanced communication across cultures
- Security and readiness for personnel and citizens
- Equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Meeting regulatory requirements
- Cost savings and efficiencies
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global team effectiveness
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Benefits of CQ For Everyone
- Global Citizens: CQ is the missing link between thinking globally and acting locally.
- Communities of Faith: CQ enables religious groups to respectfully engage with people from other cultural and religious backgrounds.
- 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
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.
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
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