About Cultural Intelligence
CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, or CQ®, is a globally recognised way of assessing and improving effectiveness in culturally diverse situations. It’s rooted in rigorous, academic research conducted across more than 100 countries.
CQ: An Essential Skill
Cultural intelligence (CQ®) is a critical part of setting yourself apart in today’s globalised world of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and innovation. It’s the ability to relate and work effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds and it goes beyond existing notions of cultural sensitivity and awareness. With cultural intelligence, you’ll know how to strategically use cultural differences to come up with more innovative solutions.
In culturally diverse situations, CQ predicts…
- Personal Adjustment and Adaptability
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Negotiation Effectiveness
- Trust, Idea Sharing, and Innovation
- Leadership Effectiveness
- Profitability and Cost-Savings
White Paper: The Inclusive Culture Pyramid
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.
What is CQ?
Most cultural competence programmes 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.
Cultural Intelligence begins with CQ Drive—the curiosity and motivation needed to work well with others. Next is CQ Knowledge—understanding the kinds of differences that describe one group versus the next, without resorting to stereotyping specific cultures. Third is CQ Strategy—learning how to plan effectively in light of cultural differences. And finally is CQ Action—being able to adapt behaviour when the situation requires it.
Measure your CQ, receive a complimentary CQ Analysis. Learn More >>
Why is CQ Important?
For most organisations, the greatest opportunities for growth involve expanding into new markets at home and abroad. Organisations with culturally intelligent students and staff are more likely to accomplish their mission in today’s multicultural, globalised world.
Benefits of CQ For Companies
- Success in culturally diverse markets
- Speed and efficiency when working across borders
- Effective short-term and long-term global assignments
- Becoming an employer of choice
- Profitability and cost savings
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global virtual team effectiveness
Benefits of CQ For Educational Institutions
- Students, faculty, and staff with high intercultural competence
- High quality Interactions with diverse others
- A broad range of career opportunities
- A diverse and inclusive campus or school environment
- Transformational study abroad programmes
- Recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff
- Tangible and intangible efficiencies and cost savings
Benefits of CQ For Government
- Enhanced communication across cultures
- Security and readiness for personnel and citizens
- Equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Meeting regulatory requirements
- Cost savings and efficiencies
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global team effectiveness
Benefits of CQ For Everyone
- Global Citizens: CQ is the missing link between thinking globally and acting locally.
- Communities of Faith: CQ enables religious groups to respectfully engage with people from other cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Employers: CQ is the strategic link between a diverse workforce and diverse customers.
- Job Seekers: 90% of executives are looking for people who have cultural intelligence. CQ provides a competitive edge for landing your dream job
Music, sports, parenting, research, politics, filmmaking, service…Virtually all fields involve encounters with culturally diverse individuals and situations. The greater your cultural intelligence, the more likely that you successfully adjust to the cultures you encounter and that your interactions will be effective.
Benefits of CQ For Companies
- Success in culturally diverse markets
- Speed and efficiency when working across borders
- Effective short-term and long-term global assignments
- Becoming an employer of choice
- Profitability and cost savings
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global virtual team effectiveness
Benefits of CQ For Educational Institutions
- Students, faculty, and staff with high intercultural competence
- High quality Interactions with diverse others
- A broad range of career opportunities
- A diverse and inclusive campus or school environment
- Transformational study abroad programmes
- Recruitment and retention of underrepresented students, faculty and staff
- Tangible and intangible efficiencies and cost savings
Benefits of CQ For Government
- Enhanced communication across cultures
- Security and readiness for personnel and citizens
- Equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups
- Meeting regulatory requirements
- Cost savings and efficiencies
- Multicultural team effectiveness
- Global team effectiveness
Benefits of CQ For Everyone
- Global Citizens: CQ is the missing link between thinking globally and acting locally.
- Communities of Faith: CQ enables religious groups to respectfully engage with people from other cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Employers: CQ is the strategic link between a diverse workforce and diverse customers.
- Job Seekers: 90% of executives are looking for people who have cultural intelligence. CQ provides a competitive edge for landing your dream job
Music, sports, parenting, research, politics, filmmaking, service…Virtually all fields involve encounters with culturally diverse individuals and situations. The greater your cultural intelligence, the more likely that you successfully adjust to the cultures you encounter and that your interactions will be effective.
Multiple Solutions to Fit Your Needs
Global CQ
Global CQ can best be described as working and relating effectively across international cultures. This may occur during international travel, when interacting with a global, virtual team, or when talking with people from other countries.
Domestic CQ
Domestic CQ can best be described as working and relating effectively with people from different cultural backgrounds in your own country. This may include ethnic differences but it might also mean working with people from different regions of the country, different functions in the work place, or even from different generational groups.
Products & Services
We offer a variety of physical and digital products, services, and experiences to fit the needs of anyone looking to work more effectively with others.
Research
We are the gold standard – our Cultural Intelligence Scale is the only peer-reviewed, academically validated scale to measure cultural intelligence.
Training & Events
We continuously offer public training programmes and events around the globe.
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