Cultural Intelligence As A Non-Negotiable Competence For Every Leader
- Apr 20, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 21, 2023
Written by: Alena Ipanova, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Cultural Intelligence (ICQ) has become a buzzing term in many conversations about leadership development, team performance, recruitment & onboarding.
And one of the misconceptions that people usually have about ICQ is that it's only relevant for companies that work internationally or have employees from different countries.
Let's have a closer look at what Cultural Intelligence really is and why it is one of the key leadership competencies regardless of whether you work internationally or not.
What is Cultural Intelligence?
Cultural Intelligence is the ability to relate to and work together with people who might think, feel and behave differently (ICQ Global).
Does it mean that it's relevant only when we work with people representing different national cultures?
The answer is no!
Each individual has a minimum of 15 different cultural identities and affiliations based on such factors as ethnicity, gender, national culture, profession, religion, social groups of interest, and more.
In today's interconnected world, many people are exposed to and influenced by a variety of cultural traditions and practices, whether through travel, education or simply living in a multicultural society.
It means that our identity is not limited to our country of origin or nationality. This is one of the worst predictors of one's behavior, according to Csaba Toth, the author of the bestselling book "Uncommon Sense in Unusual Times".
Thus we can say that each interaction that we have daily is intercultural, even between people who come from the same country.
Culture as a system vs. personal preferences
It is important to differentiate "culture as a system" and our personal preferences.
Growing up in a specific cultural context we learn what is "normal" and accepted in our social environment, what is right and wrong. We are conditioned by our culture scape. We adapt to it, even if our values conflict with those promoted by the culture we live in.
What is the role of Cultural Intelligence here? Let me bring in one example from my practice. Some months ago I've been coaching a Swedish engineer who struggled with belonging at his workplace. His high level of ambition, competitiveness and strive to take on more challenging tasks was seen as rude, impulsive, and showing off in a culture of "lagom" = not standing out, just right. His attempts to tone down his ambitions raised his anxiety level. "I will never belong here" - he shared.
Some months after our training program I got an email from him, saying:
"Alena, I'm working in a USA-based company now. You won't believe it, but at my current company I'm praised for all the qualities I've been criticized for at my previous workplace".
Understanding "culture as a system" whether it's country, company, or social group, and evaluating how big the gap is between "their normal" and "your normal", can tremendously help us not only find the environment we can thrive in but also take well-informed steps to expand our comfort zone and reduce the gaps.
Cultural Intelligence and Leadership
Cultural Intelligence is a non-negotiable skill to develop for any leader. It's not just about cultural knowledge, but rather the ability to understand how cultural differences impact behavior and how to turn differences into synergy.
According to a survey by Forbes, 75% of executives believe that cultural intelligence is critical to their organisations' success, and 84% believe that it is important for their leaders to have cultural intelligence.
As a culturally intelligent leader you will be able to better understand yourself and others, notice what drives people at work, what kind of support they might need at a given moment, and how you can foster an inclusive culture and help individuals and teams realize their full potential.
The question here might not even be "Why Cultural Intelligence is important in today's Leadership?" but rather "What is the cost of not developing Cultural Intelligence in leaders and teams?"
Alena Ipanova, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Alena is an inclusive leadership enthusiast, passionate about people and cultures. Her mission is to help individuals and organisations reach their full potential by developing the ability to better relate to and work together with people who think and behave differently. With the background in psychology, education, intercultural leadership and 15+ years experience in international training programs in Europe and Asia, Alena supports individuals, teams and organisations in their growth and development. Working across different sectors and industries, Alena combines best practices and research to address the needs of her clients and help them generate impactful solutions
