Economic recessions have typically been times when organisations scale back their global expansion. Not this time. The economic downturn is spurring companies to become more international. Executives from every region recognize that the greatest opportunities for growth exist beyond domestic…
Read MoreI can eloquently explain why some cultures value punctuality and efficiency (“Clock-Time” cultures) while others place greater value on relationships and flexibility (“Event-Time” cultures). But get me off stage and I’m not nearly so patient handling these differences myself. Full…
Read MoreThere’s no cultural difference that’s more easily understood by people than those that have to do with “time-orientation”. A few ways we explain this in the cross-cultural domain is contrasting cultures according to: Event Time vs. Clock Time Monochronic vs.…
Read MoreJust about the time I think we’re beginning to overcome our ugly American image, the men who want the top leadership role in our country take us two steps backward. Think about how these words sound when you read them…
Read MoreExpatriate Spouses need more than cultural knowledge to thrive. They need high CQ. --Guest post by Regula Sindemann I am not a cultural intelligence expert. As a matter of fact, it was only 18 months ago that I first came across…
Read MoreI often watch customer service people interacting with foreign visitors. Inevitably, the foreign customer will ask the sales agent to repeat something. The agent repeats it, just as fast, and often with a hint of exasperation. And the visitor stands…
Read More“Okay. Let’s get down to business.” It’s a familiar phrase for those who live in meetings in the Western world. It’s code for, “Cut the chit chat. Time to get something done.” Yet for many cultures around the world, a…
Read MoreI’ve often prided myself upon how deeply I think and reflect about things….not at the expense of action. In fact, “thinking” is sometimes a way for me to bide the time when I’m bored on a plane or tuned out…
Read MoreLearning and Talent Development (L&TD) professionals are crucial allies for assessing and developing cultural intelligence (CQ). The findings of a recent survey of L&TD practices in India, the U.K., and U.S. offer several strategic insights for those of us committed…
Read MoreOur family loves to watch the Amazing Race. Given our many travels together, we often think about how we would compete to cross the finish line first. And you can imagine the joy it gives me to hear my kids…
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