Bridging divides: The role of cultural intelligence at work

An office dinner at a restaurant serving local cuisine turned into an important lesson for Harshith Sai Tunuguntla . Having been to four Indian states in two years, he struggled with communication due to a language barrier.?

But in that instant, he was reminded of a piece of advice from a friend: embracing the local culture and fitting in can be a value addition, both personally and professionally.?

This experience helped Sai Tunuguntla realise the importance of cultural intelligence. Working as a Product Solutions Engineer at Juspay, he now takes proactive efforts and interest in learning about diverse cultures, languages, history, food, and practices.?

“I feel cultural intelligence acts as a bridge when moving to a new place — helps understand people, leads to better interaction, and builds stronger relationships,” Sai Tunuguntla says.?

With diversity hiring gaining ground in India and more Indian professionals emerging as a top choice in the global workforce, cultivating soft skills to build cross-cultural relationships has become crucial.?

So, how can you foster cultural intelligence? We ask experts to share insights in this edition of the Get Hired newsletter.?

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A broader perspective

LogarithmHR’s Director Anand Pillai defines cultural intelligence, or cultural quotient (CQ), as the ability to understand, respect, and effectively interact with people from diverse cultural backgrounds. “It involves being aware of your own cultural biases, recognising and appreciating cultural differences, and adapting your communication style and behaviour to various cultural contexts,” he says.

Being empathetic and receptive is key, according to Poorna Wellbeing’s Deepa Mahesh . The leadership coach divides CQ into three aspects — cognitive, motivational, and behavioural. While the first refers to the ability of acquiring knowledge about different cultures, habits, and practices, the second highlights a genuine interest to connect and interact with diverse people. The third aspect speaks about the ability to adapt with verbal and non-verbal cues.??

So, what factors have brought this soft skill into the spotlight?

Globalisation, multicultural workforces, and the rise of remote work are a few that Pillai highlights. “Organisations now operate on a global scale, requiring professionals to collaborate across borders and cultures. The ability to navigate these complexities with empathy and understanding has become essential,” he adds.?

One-third of the respondents to a recent survey by online marketplace company Capterra shared that they collaborate with co-workers based in other countries at least once a day. And two-third expected an increase in international collaboration during the year.?

Mahesh sheds light on boundaryless organisations. “Talent can be anywhere and thus, the need to accept different cultures under one roof.” A growing focus on diversity and inclusion is also a factor, she adds.?

In focus

“Success in a globalised world depends on our ability to connect hearts and minds across cultural divides,” says Pillai, highlighting the importance of cultivating cultural diversity as a soft skill. Diverse perspectives also facilitate problem solving and innovation, he adds.?

According to Sai Tunuguntla, it paves the way for collaboration, fosters inclusivity, and leads to enhanced engagement in the workplace.?

In fact, communication emerged as the most in-demand skill this year across Asia Pacific, a LinkedIn report suggests. But the lack of knowledge about culture can lead to miscommunication, Mahesh says.?

“Understanding the nuances of each culture ensures adequate sensitivity to the people from that culture. It is ultimately about trust and connection first, work only comes later,” she adds.

Another reason? A leader with high CQ enables collaboration, cohesion, and better teamwork, she shares.

However, there are challenges. Personal biases, stereotypes, lack of openness and flexibility, and resistance towards awareness are some roadblocks keeping professionals from developing this skill.

Bring into play

Reading about a particular place, its culture, and history helped Sai Tunuguntla understand its different aspects — including language, food, and festivals.?

Pillai has similar thoughts. “The journey to cultural intelligence begins with a single step: Embracing the unknown with an open heart and a curious mind,” he says.?

So, what are the other ways to develop this soft skill? Mahesh and Pillai share some tips:?

?? Educate yourself and become aware of different cultures.

??? Immerse yourself in different cultures through travel, reading, and engaging with diverse communities.

?? Identify and address conscious as well as unconscious biases.

?? Practise empathy and active listening.

?? Stay open to diversity and be willing to accept.?

??? Seek feedback on your interactions.

?? Attend cultural competency workshops.

?? Check out the previous edition on prioritising physical health at work. ?

?? You can also showcase cultural intelligence during job interviews. Share specific examples of your experience working effectively with diverse teams, suggests Anand Pillai. This demonstrates your ability to adapt in a multicultural setting and your knowledge of different cultural norms and practices. He shares the following sample response:?

“In my previous role, I successfully led a project involving team members from five different countries, ensuring seamless communication and mutual respect.”

?? What role does cultural intelligence play in leadership? Infinite Consulting’s Emma Jordaan shares some insights in this post .

?? Developing cultural intelligence is like climbing a ladder — taking one step at a time, says executive coach Dr. Sharon Lamm Hartman . Read her post for ways to cultivate this soft skill.

• The key to cultural intelligence lies in being able to “interpret behaviours, gestures, and social cues in unfamiliar settings,” GI Group Holding’s Upasana Raina says. Read more here.
• What steps can firms take to improve diversity in their workforce? Myntra’sCHRO Nupur Nagpal shares in this video .

How to create a workforce where everyone has an equal shot at success? In this course , four leaders including Craigslist founder Craig Newmark and Black Girls Code founder Kimberly Bryant share how they are leading diversity and inclusion efforts.

This is the 38th edition of the biweekly newsletter from Get Hired by LinkedIn News India. Each issue aims to provide insights on everything jobs-related, combined with expert views and member voices.?

Stay tuned by subscribing here and share your comments and thoughts using #GetHiredIndia .

By Dipal Desai — LinkedIn Editor covering jobs and career development in India

Associate Community Manager: Neha Upalekar