Cultural Intelligence & Sensitivity: Why It Matters & How To Cultivate It

Cultural intelligence or cultural quotient, like emotional intelligence, is a skill that has become vital in a new emergent work culture, ushering in a more digital and global era of leadership than ever before.

Living in the UAE, a cultural melting pot, for the last 14 years has given me the opportunity to work with and meet people from all over the world.

Understanding Culture

Culture isn’t only about the language we speak, the food we eat, or the way we dress. There are many more nuanced aspects of our everyday life that can be attributed to culture.

Culture has been defined and described in a myriad of ways but fundamentally it is a set of responses derived from learned?and established ideas, attitudes and values. These responses are considered the correct way to perceive, feel, and act and are passed on to the new members through immersion and teaching.?To understand Culture, often the analogy of a ‘Cultural Iceberg’ is used.

Icebergs peak above the water, displaying just a fraction of their overall mass. People first observe only a part of a person's culture based on characteristics like clothing, appearance, speech, grooming or greeting rituals. However, these represent only a small part of a person's culture. A cultural iceberg, like a physical iceberg, has important dimensions under the surface. This includes the views, preferences, and priorities that define individual attitudes and values and are shaped by religion, education, family, or finances. Culture determines what is acceptable or unacceptable, important, or unimportant, right, or wrong. The part of the 'iceberg' beneath the surface has a profound impact on the one above.

According to research, while human nature is inherited, culture is learnt, and personality may be inherited and learned. However, culture can feel more innate at times since we may not recall being ‘taught’ to conform to specific norms or hold certain beliefs. It is remarkable how profound cultural influences can be on our subconscious.?

The significance of Cultural Intelligence & Sensitivity

At its core, cultural intelligence is the skill to interact, engage, and collaborate effectively across cultures. In the workplace, cultural intelligence is multifaceted. We are now more than ever dealing with people from diverse backgrounds within organizations both locally and globally, and we have business partners and clients all over the world. Culture, according to studies, determines how people tolerate power disparities and uncertainty, how they express emotions, value relationships and rules, and their desire for individuality, ambition, and success. So, it is critical to understand what motivates and drives people, why and how decisions are made and?how this influences business and life.

Cultural intelligence requires an evaluation of our conscious and unconscious biases and underlines the need for?cultural sensitivity. Recognizing our own as well as others' cultural influences is the first step in working well with people from various cultures. Awareness also helps?to shift away from the assumption that the way we do things is the only or best way toward a more inclusive approach.

Developing Cultural Intelligence & Sensitivity

1.??Be curious and learn about other cultures

To develop cultural intelligence, we must be curious and willing to have an open mind. We can always learn more by talking to colleagues or reading about the various dimensions & influences of culture (the research done by Dutch social psychologist, Geert Hofstede is great place to start) and how context, space and time can impact intracultural communication.

2.??Increase your self-awareness in relation to others

It is also important to develop an awareness of our own behaviors as well as an understanding of how our attitude differs from the cultures with whom we frequently interact. By collecting insights and ideas, we can learn how to overcome differences and work toward a common goal.?

3.??Recognize your preconceptions about particular?cultures

Stereotyping is common and often unconscious, yet it may be detrimental since it leads to negative and inaccurate generalizations about people. It is essential to make an effort to understand and evaluate individuals based on merit rather than their cultural background.

4.??Develop tolerance & flexibility

When seeking to develop cultural intelligence, being mindful allows us to become more aware of the behaviors and habits of others. Accepting their cultural norms demonstrates our appreciation for who they are and has an impact on how that individual perceives us. Embracing different cultures by being flexible develops our sensitivity, allowing us to enhance our cultural intelligence.

Studies show that an individual with a high cultural quotient, whether learned or innate, can maneuver complex situations while maintaining professionalism and work well among individuals from diverse backgrounds. Having the cultural competence to comprehend what is not conspicuous, not just among others but also within ourselves, can help us improve?communication, build intracultural relationships and be more effective in our roles.