What Is Cultural Intelligence?

As our world becomes more global and internationalized, we hear the terms ‘Diversity’ and ‘Integration’ more and more often. These refer to the harmonious coexistence of different cultures and ethnicities in our modern society.

This dynamic pace of change requires that we may develop new skills in order to work, study, cooperate and live together in harmony. We need to learn about other cultures in order to respect each other and adapt to new environments. We need to develop our Cultural Intelligence.

But beware - culture doesn’t necessarily imply ethnicity or race. For instance: two people of the same race may have two very different cultures, depending on their individual backgrounds.

Unlike ‘Ethnicity’, ‘Race’ or ‘Nationality’, which are categorizing terms, ‘Culture’ is a wider term that involves visible and invisible elements, making it much harder to categorize.

In addition, there are different levels of culture: a surface culture (for instance, the clothes we wear, the food we eat) and a deep culture ( such as the meaning of gestures and voice inflections when we speak, which may change even within the social strata of a society).

Having Cultural awareness includes having the sensitivity to recognize these nuances and respect the different sensibilities of each culture.

Why is it Important?

We’ve heard the term ‘globalization’ many times, usually in reference to products and ideas created in one country and sold or applied in another. But globalization also refers to culture travelling from one country to another, and to people relocating from their original country to another, bringing their own particular culture along with them.

A century ago, travelling abroad was not only extremely expensive but also an uncertain venture. Many of those who embarked on long trips (for instance, across continents), never returned to their places of origin.

Ellis Island Immigrants, c.1910

This began to change with the introduction of the train, and then the plane as a means of transport; but even by the 1950's, the plane was an expensive means of transportation and not always available, and  thus travelling by ship was still the favoured method of travel.

As travelling by plane became safer and more affordable - specially with the creation of the ‘tourist class’-, distances began to reduce. The creation of the European Union and the Schengen area also eased the borders between European countries, allowing for a freer exchange of goods, travellers and workers. By the end of the XX century, the internet also opened a world of instant information available at our fingertips, erasing even further our cultural boundaries.

Nowadays, studying abroad (for a Summer, a semester or for a full degree) or relocating abroad due to work have become more common than ever in human history.

However, with these advantages new challenges arise, particularly in the social arena.

While travelling with ease from one country to another presents us with a unique opportunity to learn first hand about other cultures, it also demands both parties - the relocating traveller and the country host - to develop higher sensitivities regarding one another.

That’s where Cultural Intelligence comes to play a fundamental role.

What is Cultural Intelligence?

The term Cultural Intelligence was coined by researchers Soon Ang and Linn Van Dyne, defining it as the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures.

The study included a quotient scale, based on four capabilities: Motivation, Cognition, Meta-Cognition, and Behaviour. All of these were meant to measure an individual’s level of acculturation and his response to diverse cultural environments.

The Cultural Intelligence Quotient is a theory mainly used in business environments, for people who need to travel abroad often to conduct international trade, members of the diplomatic service, or military personnel who require to remain for long periods in foreign locations and deal closely with the locals.

However, as our world shrinks, we can all benefit from this theory, from the school teachers and principals, to government personnel.

How to Develop your Cultural Intelligence?

   
There are many ways to develop your cultural intelligence, but here’s a few simple guidelines to follow:

* Keep an open mind - People are people everywhere. People with high cultural intelligence understand human race as a whole and make no distinctions based on race, skin color, country of origin, or other external differences. They treat everyone with the same respect. 

* Be humble - Being proud of your country is good, as long as it doesn’t impair your good judgement. Every nation in the world has achievements and wonders to share with others. Don’t let your national pride blind you.

* Resist the temptation to oversimplify - A fact or two about a country or its culture doesn’t make it true for the entirety of its people. Blurting out statements of this kind may cause offense, and you will be regarded as ignorant.

* Learn about other countries - When you open your mind to learn about other countries, you’ll expand your understanding of humanity as a whole. Learn a foreign language, try the typical cuisine of other countries, try pen-palling or e-palling with people around the world, watch foreign films and TV series, learn a foreign dance, or listen to foreign music. Each of these activities will enrich you and provide you with a wider perspective of the world, and its diverse cultural richness.

* Remain flexible and adaptable - Specially when traveling abroad. Respect the traditions and regulations of each place you visit, and don’t try to impose your own. Learn at least a few phrases in the language of the country you will visit, and the cultural differences that there may be there (for instance, that gorgeously decorated little house on the street may be a cute photo-opportunity for you, but for the locals it may be a shrine or a place of devotion). Remember the old adage: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Anthony Bourdain: When in Rome...

The more you learn about other cultures, the more you will become aware of our similarities and cultural richness. 

As you expand your level of awareness of other cultures, you will not only increase your cultural intelligence quotient, but also your ability to connect and harmonize with all kinds of people wherever you are.

And the world will seem curiously smaller and a lot friendlier.

To Learn More

Visit the Official Page of the Cultural Intelligence Center, and test your level of Cultural Intelligence IQ:

Cultural Intelligence Center

https://culturalIq.com