Why Cultural Intelligence (CQ)?

Why Cultural Intelligence (CQ)?

Everyone has heard of Intelligence Quotient (IQ), which measures a person's reasoning ability.

And a good number have heard of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) - especially in leadership circles - which focuses on a person's ability to perceive, use, understand, manage, and handle emotions (especially in the midst of interpersonal interactions).

But many have still not heard yet about Cultural Intelligence (CQ) which is a globally recognized way of assessing and improving effectiveness in culturally diverse situations.

One of my favorite quotes about why CQ matters in life is:

"We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." - Jimmy Carter

So then it follows, if the world around us is becoming more and more rapidly multicultural and globally connected, then we can't simply be people that reason well (IQ) or even just know how to manage our emotions well (EQ). While both of those are vital, we must also become people who know how to navigate culture – especially learning about the one we are living out of that sometimes we aren't yet aware of.

And this has even more of an impact on our success as a leader and in our business. Josh Bersin expresses one main reason why CQ is crucial to your success: "Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business strategically outperform their peers." 

All of this is why the Cultural Intelligence Center was formed. Based on more than twenty years of research across over 100 countries, they've come to know that four capabilities need to be developed in order to relate and work effectively with people from different backgrounds: Drive, Knowledge, Strategy, and Action.

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.

Cultural Intelligence is crucial to today's world, no matter what sector you work in. That is why it's worthwhile to invest in a Certified Consultant – who can lead your team through the CQ Assessment and Workshop and offer ongoing coaching and check-ins to integrate the ten research-based Cultural Values into how your organization creates culture.

Reach out today to see how Cultural Intelligence can help you lead more effectively and help your organization thrive in today's multicultural, globally-connected world.