Change is constant. And in today’s interconnected world, navigating change effectively requires more than just flexibility—it requires cultural intelligence. Although I practice and teach cultural intelligence, there are times when people associate my work with another body of research that has been in the news lately: DEI or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Because they can have similar outcomes, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about how DEI and cultural intelligence correlate.
DEI is not my area of expertise. Rather, I focus on the ability to navigate domestic and international cultural differences. This is vital for leaders and their organizations who want to create harmony, improve communication, expand innovation, build rapport with customers and investors and bolster confidence in interactions both in and outside the domestic market. That’s why I work with organizations and their leaders who want to confidently create a cohesive culture where everyone – from all walks of life – feels like they belong.
What’s next
What if you and your team could build a skill set to effectively talk and work with just about anyone? Using this skill set, called cultural intelligence, helps ensure that you and those you talk with feel valued, heard, seen and engaged. These are the skills and tools anyone with curiosity, compassion and tenacity can develop over time.
With cultural intelligence, you are equipped to upend distracting day-to-day friction, collaborate smoothly within multicultural teams and create meaningful cross-cultural products and services.
Ensuring that everyone feels valued, heard, seen and engaged can be tough, particularly with workplaces and communities growing more diverse by the day. So, what if you…
- Are unsure about how to navigate cross-cultural interactions?
- Wonder if diversity in an organization only adds more conflict?
- Say something that’s hurtful?
Those are legitimate questions. In a time of uncertainty, normal human responses shy away from candid communication, remain silent or find someone to blame when things go south and lash out in anger. Silence or psychological violence are convenient ways to make some sort of meaning out of a bewildering situation. But another more productive response to the uncertainty is possible: empathy. Empathy is akin to solidarity. It is born of the understanding that we are all in this together.
In what together? For starters, we’re all in the uncertainty together. And that may be exactly why you’re reading this article – because you don’t always know how to communicate solidarity and create connections with people who have a different perspective or background. Know that you are not alone.
Whether it’s in your community making new friends or on a conference call with colleagues or clients, cultural intelligence is what enables you to appreciate another person’s perspective, even when you don’t agree, and adapt your words and actions that show them genuine respect. It’s the pathway to a shared understanding and mutual appreciation. The best part is this is how you create win-win scenarios that bridge divides and nourish human connection in workplaces and community spaces. That’s what creates a sense of safety and belonging in any organization.
Consider this: Only about half of American workers feel valued at work (Calvin, 2023). Considering that work is where people spend the bulk of their time, the overall feeling they have about their jobs is essential to productivity, engagement and, ultimately, success for any organization and community.
So, it’s important that businesses…
- Review policies: Ensure your hiring and workplace practices comply with existing laws.
- Adapt diversity initiatives if that’s important to your organization. If it is, you can align your efforts with legal frameworks while continuing to foster a culture where no one is left feeling sidelined or silenced.
- Ground decisions and policies in cultural intelligence: Build a cohesive culture that acknowledges domestic and international differences and recognizes that unique talent as an asset for reaching a broader market.
In today’s environment, cultural intelligence has never been more important. It allows leaders and organizations to navigate complex diversity issues with sensitivity and insight. By fostering an understanding of different cultures and healthy communication, businesses and their leaders can create a culture in which all employees feel valued and heard, even in changing political or legal climates.
Let’s connect
In this fast-changing world, it’s crucial for businesses and their leaders to stay ahead of the curve. If you’re looking for more information on how to adapt your strategies and build a high-performing, cohesive team, I’d love to connect. You can reach out here for tailored guidance and support on navigating these changes with cultural intelligence. You can also learn at your own pace and get the tools you need to work effectively with just about anyone in my online, self-study course.
Together, we can make sure your workplace remains sustainable, inclusive and productive for years to come.
Photo by Jamie Street on Unsplash