THE CAPABILITY TO FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY IN A VARIETY OF CULTURAL

CONTEXTS

Cultural Intelligence

What is culture?

What is Culture?

What is culture?

"Most social scientists today view culture as consisting primarily of the symbolic, ideational, and intangible aspects of human societies.

The essence of a culture is not its artifacts, tools, or other tangible

cultural elements but how the members of the group interpret, use, and perceive them.

It is the values, symbols, interpretations, and perspectives that distinguish one people from another in modernized societies; it is not material objects and other tangible aspects of human societies.

People within a culture usually interpret the meaning of symbols, artifacts, and behaviors in the same or in similar ways."

Source: Banks, J.A., Banks, & McGee, C. A. (1989). Multicultural education. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

HTTP: / /WWW.CARLA.UMN.EDU/CULTURE/DEFINITIONS.HTML

What is culture?

What about YOU?

Do you speak another language (fluently)?Do you have a passport?Have you ever visited another country for vacation?Have you ever lived outside the USA?Do you see yourself ever living in another country?Do you think living in another country would be easy?Do you read the news about other countries?In your line of work, do you collaborate with

individuals from other countries?Do you eat foods from other countries?If you could go ANYWHERE in the world, where

would you want to go?

Are you prepared?

Cross-Cultural Sensitivity Inventory

A 32-item instrument that provides dimensional scores for individuals on five subscales.

Levels of sensitivity on issues & experiences related to cross-cultural or inter-cultural interaction

(the higher the score, the more sensitive the individual is)

Used to raise people’s awareness of the issues to consider prior to intercultural interaction.

The Five Subscales

Cultural Integration Assesses the degree to which an individual integrates elements from

cultures other than their own in their daily activities.

Behavioral Scale Assesses the degree to which an individual has adopted behavior that

is new or has a degree of comfort when interacting with others.

Intellectual Interaction Assesses the degree to which an individual seeks out knowledge of

other cultural orientations.

Attitude Toward Others Assess the degree of openness towards others.

Empathy Scale Assesses the degree to which an individual identifies with the feelings

of others.

HSBC Cultural Differences

Mistakes Americans Make

A CROSS-CULTURAL TEST OF YOUR SOCIAL “GRACES”

1. ______ considered bad manners to open a gift in front of the giver A. Iran

B. China 2. ______ gifts that appeal to intellect or esthetics are especially appreciated C. France   3. ______ avoid giving chrysanthemums (used only for cemeteries) D. Luxembourg

E. Germany 4. ______ when giving flowers as a gift, take an odd number, but never 13 F. Japan   5. ______ never eat food with your left hand, as this is considered offensive G. Egypt

H. Kenya 6. ______ it is impolite to eat everything on your plate   7. ______ white, blue, and black gifts should be avoided as they are associated with funerals

  8. ______ never give alcohol as a gift   9. ______ don’t bring flowers except to express condolences

  10. ______ avoid discussions of or asking questions about family, and job

What is cultural intelligence?

The capability to function effectively across a variety of cultural contexts. Ethnic Generational Organizational Cultures

Emphasis is on understanding different cultures Problem solving Effective adaptations for various cultural settings.

Why do we need cultural intelligence?

The global workplace requires individuals to be sensitive to different cultures, to interact appropriately with people from different

cultures, & to analyze new cultures as they are encountered

Cultural intelligence is needed to manage the stress of culture shock, and the consequent frustration and confusion that

typically result from clashes of cultural differences

Who needs cultural intelligence?

Business leadersGovernment leadersNon-profit leadersCorporationsGovernment agenciesUniversities???

Individuals & Organizations

How do individuals develop their capacity to adapt effectively across different cultures?

Why do some individuals possess superior capacity to deal with the challenges of working in different cultures?

How do individuals reach full productive potential working in culturally diverse work environments in the home countries and overseas?

How do organizations build capability for effective work assignments in locations around the world?

How do organizations optimize individual and collective performance when they harness the cultural diversity of their people across the world?

CQ Drive (motivation)CQ Knowledge (cognition)

Your interest and confidence in functioning effectively in culturally diverse settings.

Without the ample drive to take on the challenges that inevitably accompany multicultural situations, there’s little evidence you’ll be successful.

Your knowledge about how cultures are similar and different.

The emphasis is not on being an expert about every culture you encounter.

Instead, to what extent do you understand some core culture differences and their impact on you and others?

Capabilities of cultural intelligence

CQ Strategy (meta-cognition)

CQ Action (behavior)

How you make sense of culturally diverse experiences.

It occurs when you make judgments about your own thought processes and those od others.

Can you plan effectively in light of cultural difference?

Your capability to adapt your behavior appropriately for different cultures.

It involves having a flexible repertoire of responses to suit various situations while still remaining true to yourself.

Capabilities of cultural intelligence

Low CQ* You react to external stimuli (what you see & hear, in a new cultural context) and you judge it based on what that means in your own cultural context.

* You begin to recognize other culture norms. You’re motivated to learn more.

* You begin to accommodate other cultural norms into your thinking. You can explain how culture impacts the way people might respond differently to the same circumstances.

People use overly simplistic approaches “People are people. A smile and a kind

word work anywhere.”

Business continue to lose millions of dollars when expanding into culturally diverse markets.

Business leaders with low CQ use disjointed, slap-dash approaches to the myriad of cultural forces barraging them.

Many charitable organizations get kicked out of developing nations because of their inability to work with local officials.

High CQ

* You adapt and adjust your thinking and behavior to other cultural norms.

* You automatically adjust your thinking and behavior when you get appropriate cues, sometimes subconsciously.

When something seemingly bizarre, random, or unfamiliar happens, those with high CQ

Have a repertoire of strategies & behaviors to orient themselves

Have a mental frame to discern whether it’s explained by culture or it’s something unique to a particular person or organization

Have the ability to encounter new cultural situations

Are able to think deeply about what’s happening (or not happening)

Make appropriate adjustments to how one should understand, relate, and behave in these otherwise-disorienting situations.

TeachersHuman Resource Managers

When working with students from various cultural backgrounds, they learn how to adapt their: Teaching Assessments Feedback strategies

Have a better sense of how to handle a Muslim employee’s request to miss a sales conference during Ramadan.

What High CQ looks like:

Hospitals Students

When led by culturally intelligent leaders, are more effective at: Treating immigrant

patients Have fewer lawsuits

due to misdiagnosis of those patients

Have more long-term benefits Volunteer Study Abroad

What High CQ looks like:

SUPERIOR CROSS -CULTURAL ADJUSTMENT

IMPROVED JOB PERFORMANCE

ENHANCED PERSONAL WELL-BEING

GREATER PROFITABILITY

Benefits of Increasing CQ

IMAGINE A LIBERAL POLITICIAN AND A TEA PARTY ACTIVIST ENGAGING IN RESPECTFUL

DIALOGUE.

IMAGINE A JEWISH FAMILY SHARING A HOLIDAY WITH A PALESTINIAN FAMILY.

IMAGINE A CEO WORKING WITH A HIP-HOP ARTIST TO REDUCE WORLD HUNGER.

IMAGINE AN ACLU ADVOCATE JOINING AN EVANGELICAL PASTOR TO PROMOTE WORLD

JUSTICE.

Together We Can Be Catalysts!

Discussion

What is cultural intelligence?

How can you improve your global awareness?

What are some questions you may want to ask someone from another culture before going to their country?

In order to improve your cultural intelligence, how could you “scare yourself?”

What does “think widely, focus deeply” mean?