Whether you're a business manager, entrepreneur, or an employee seeking to scale globally, it's crucial to know that cultural intelligence is an essential skill. In this article, I will explain what cultural intelligence means and how you can effectively scale globally.
Culture, as we all know, encompasses the values, norms, and customs that a group of people share. Cultural intelligence, however, is the ability to understand the cultural norms and values of others in order to build and maintain close or successful relationships. The first step in developing your cultural intelligence is to observe and understand the culture: What defines your culture or another's culture? How does it influence behaviour and perceptions?
There are four dimensions of cultural intelligence:
Do you care? - Ask yourself how important it is to work in a culturally diverse environment. If it is crucial, does it seem appealing in any way? For example, a business manager may find the appeal in accessing a broader market by embracing cultural diversity within the team.
Do you know? - How much do you know about their norms and values? You don't necessarily have to be an expert, but it's essential to know the basics if you want to scale to a particular level. For instance, an entrepreneur expanding to a new market should have a basic understanding of the local customs and values to resonate with the target audience.
Can you plan? - Are you capable of building a strategy that will help you adapt to the local culture? An employee looking to work effectively in a new cultural environment should devise a plan to assimilate and understand the cultural nuances.
Can you execute it? - Are you able to execute the set plan successfully? This is especially important for an entrepreneur or business manager, as successful execution ensures that the business operations align with the cultural intelligence strategy.
If you aim to operate excellently in a multicultural environment, it's crucial to understand that different values, norms, customs, and priorities exist. Cultural intelligence is not fixed, it can be developed. Embracing and navigating these diversities will contribute to your success on a global scale.
Kind Regards,
Olamiji Akeredolu.