Change Management WalkMe TeamUpdated February 5, 2019

Cultural Intelligence: A New Phenomenon

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Cultural Intelligence: A New Phenomenon

Today’s internet oriented world has made communication at the click of a button a real possibility.

It’s quite alarming to consider how far we’ve come in such a short time, where information can be transferred seamlessly from one location to the next.

Whether emails or video conferences, communication is largely irrespective of location.

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This has had a huge impact on international business, where companies can invest in foreign talent without fearing they’ll grow disconnected.

As a result of improving technology and a greater embrace for cultural minorities, companies are considerably more diverse than ever before.

It’s easy to forget how your counterpart’s perspectives can differ from your own.

The culturally diverse nature of today’s work environment dictates an industry’s ability to thrive, and it’s important you understand cultural differences if you’re to establish compatible relationships.

Multi-cultural environments demand cultural intelligence.

Conducting your business the right way involves a level of cultural intelligence that’s conducive to higher productivity.

This requires cooperation, among other things, but involves a unity of different ideals to create a comprehensive melting pot of skills and ambitions.

Cultural intelligence can make or break your business, and though it requires patience your persistence will pay off in the end.

Heightened professionalism and insight can help organizations develop more effective solutions across many cultural situations.

Though we’ve laid the groundwork for cultural intelligence, let’s continue with some top motivations for embracing the importance of the concept going forward:

Collaboration

The need for collaboration has never been more pronounced.

Companies have realized how collaboration can expand business operations significantly.

As they old adage goes, two heads are better than one.

But could you imagine ten or even one hundred heads?

This widens the scope of possibility dramatically.

Most common problems cannot be resolved by one person, one community, or one culture.

There is a necessity to collaborate across borders, and communications are bound to run more smoothly when stakeholders use a culturally intelligent approach.

Without this leaders can be left with incompatible collaborations that reach a stalemate.

When relations never quite get off the ground there is reason for concern.

Critical stakeholders can go their own way, sectors can clash, and ultimately resources can be wasted.

Cultural intelligence reduces regional differences and solves problems which will otherwise be left unsolved.

Networks

The business world is essentially an extremely comprehensive collection of networks.

Networks have enhanced in alignment with the world becoming more connected, broadening what’s within our reach and what’s within the realm of possibility.

But this notion hasn’t come without its own issues.

Institutions are under scrutiny like never before, constantly questioned and under threat of being exposed on social media channels.

There are many opportunities at present, especially considering social media has become the pulse of the nation.

Good leaders can embrace change and use it to their advantage.

They appreciate the importance of building networks to remain competitive.

This involves capitalizing on the myriad of opportunities at our fingertips, which are lost without the right connections.

But rather than simplistically focusing on increasing one’s own network, taking an all-encompassing approach is a better way to address complex problems.

You’ll want to bring people together, creating a united force capable of resolving advanced issues.

Though this might require you leave your comfort zone, going further afield and away from what you know, you’ll build challenging networks that break boundaries.

This will require something more than a few simple connections, namely cultural intelligence!

The Importance of Trust

In a world of great uncertainty and doubt, trust has become one of the greatest assets of all.

We live in a less structured society, so establishing a trustworthy business is everything, especially if you’re looking to compete in saturated markets.

People listen to sources they trust and follow leaders they trust, before ultimately buying from brands they trust.

You can have the greatest business model in the world, but without trust what do you really have?

Certainly not a loyal, repeat-purchase type customer base.

Trustworthiness is the responsibility of leaders, who must behave appropriately and ultimately enact procedures that establish rapport with consumers.

It’s one thing to do this in your own culture, but establishing trustworthiness outside of your own culture is extremely difficult.

Gestures and local customs might get you part of the way, but to truly develop trust you must develop real cultural intelligence.

Demographic Demands

Relationships are easily strained, especially when you’re asked to connect multiple age groups.

There is a growing disconnect between young and old, created by an abundance of youngsters who wish things were different but aren’t willing to be patient.

Though young and old have clashed for the test of time, demographic differences can be offset with cultural intelligence.

It can branch cross generational divides to create more harmonious relationships between age groups.

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