What is Cultural Intelligence (CQ)
Exhaustive research clearly confirms that having a mix of people in an organisation is not enough to create better outcomes, you need an inclusive culture too; and the benefits of having both are tangible:
- Inclusive leaders make employees feel 84% more motivated (BITC, 2014)
Organisations with inclusive cultures are:
- 8 x more likely to have overall better business outcomes
- 6 x more likely to be innovative
- 2 x as likely to meet or exceed financial targets
- 3 x as likely to be high performing (Bersin by Deloitte, 2017)
Australia’s rich diversity of ethnic, generational and organisational culture means that Cultural Intelligence, or CQ®, is critical for our society and workplaces. CQ is a globally recognised way of assessing and improving effectiveness in culturally diverse situations. Research on cultural intelligence, which to-date spans over 100 countries and 150,000 individuals, demonstrates those with cultural intelligence have skills in four capabilities and thirteen sub-dimensions which are all developable.
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
Your level of interest, persistence, and confidence during multicultural interactions.
CQ KNOWLEDGE (COGNITION)
Your understanding of the kinds of differences that describe one group versus the next, without resorting to stereotyping specific cultures.
Your awareness and ability to plan effectively in light of cultural differences.
Your ability to adapt behaviour when the situation requires it.