What is cultural intelligence?

Improved technology has enabled many corporations to operate international. Given that these companies have entered foreign markets, the need for cultural sensitivity between workers has increased. This need made many businesses to include cultural intelligence as a qualification for promotion and employment. In response to this growing need, experts in organizational psychology developed ways to measure and improve the cultural intelligence quotient of the employee (CQ). These tests measure the desire of an individual to be culturally sensitive and also his knowledge of situations in which special care may be required. Testing CQ also measure the effectiveness of employee plans to solve sensitive situations and the ability of this person practically use these tactics.

Unlike IQ, which is largely unchanged, it can improve cultural intelligence with training. The most successful candidates for training highly scores on parts of CQ testing, which measures drive. These individuals generally receive other systemsfaith than their own. Those with ethnocentric and provincial ideologies can learn about other cultures, but generally lack the respect needed to use this information.

Improving cultural knowledge is generally considered to be the easiest way to increase CQ. For those who have only occasional contact with members of a particular group, one night can be read to learn the foundations of polite behavior and the main taboo of this culture. Employees who will make frequent trips, or those who have moved to different regions may have to carry out more detailed research. Online reading, interviews with people from the surroundings and an exhibition of art with art from these areas are good ways to improve cultural intelligence.

After learning about cultural differences, people with high CQ often develop plans to apply this knowledge of social interactions. These individuals often examine their typeThey compare them with the norms of other culture. For example, a person who usually greets business co -workers with the hands of Handshake and clap on her back tried to anticipate the effects of this behavior with members of the company that more protects personal space. A culturally intelligent person would then plan to adjust their behavior appropriately.

The final measure of cultural intelligence is the ability of a person to successfully implement his tactics. To expand the previous example, the employee realizes that enthusiastic Handshake can be unpleasant for visitors and plans to be more reserved during the introduction. At the meeting stands further than usual and waits for every visitor to extend. The resulting handshake is much more favorable than usual, but comfortable for all parties.