“Once we accept the reality that learning is a lifelong process of keeping abreast with the changes around us, the next step is to ask ourselves: “Which skills will help me to stay ahead of change or, at least, deal with change with more ease and grace?” Peter Drucker
What would you consider to be a good measure of cultural intelligence? When engaging in business interactions with individuals from cultures other than your own, how do you adjust your work style? It is possible to succeed on an international scale without it, but maximizing your potential requires cultivating your Cultural Intelligence
Here’s a guide to enhance your Cultural Intelligence:
1. Passion Check: Assess your interest and confidence levels in multicultural interactions. Do you care enough? Understand the relevance of these skills for success in a global context.
2. Knowledge Inquiry: Evaluate your understanding of the differences and similarities within the cultures you engage with in business. How thoroughly do you understand the differences and similarities of the cultures you are doing business wit?
3. Strategic Approach: Develop a plan for navigating foreign business cultures. How will you enhance your cultural awareness, and what steps are part of your plan?
4. Execution Capability: Once you have a plan, assess your ability to execute your cross-cultural strategy. Embrace mistakes as part of the learning process, focusing on recovery from any missteps.
Developing a higher CQ is an ongoing process. The completion of steps 1 through 4 sequentially does not mark the end, but rather a continuation of the process. Have fun learning!
If your goal is a dedicated effort to engage effectively with business partners from diverse cultural backgrounds, inspire and lead multicultural teams, and unlock your full global potential, help is here with coaching programs to support you on this enriching journey.
