Issue 1 2009 > Intercultural Tips
Intercultural Tips
Practical ways to increase your “Cultural Intelligence” when working abroad
Emotional Intelligence is a concept that was made popular by the groundbreaking book by Daniel Goleman in 1995. CQ or "Cultural Intelligence" is a concept that incorporates the ability to interact effectively across global cultures and diverse workplaces.
Here are some practical ways to increase your “cultural intelligence” when working abroad:
- Approach everyone as an individual–don’t make assumptions based on a group identity
- Understand that cultural tendencies such as mannerisms are not necessarily indicators of a person's performance and capabilities
- Seek feedback to confirm the other person understood what you were really communicating
- Reconfirm your understanding by paraphrasing what you have read or heard
- Stay away from using jargons and metaphors defined by your own cultural background
- Give time out to your team to talk in their mother tongues so that your counterparts can explore and articulate what they really want to say
- Notice how something is said and be aware of patterns of speech, tone of voice, periods of silence.
- Listen to silence–it means different things in different cultures!
- Find a cultural informant/interpreter to coach or guide you
- Use pictures, or diagrams or stories to convey your messages
- Make an attempt to learn the logic behind the new culture–the connection between appearances, behaviors and values
- Take part in intercultural training in the new location to gain insights as how your foreign counterparts communicate and behave
Crown Relocations is proud to deliver a unique intercultural training program - Global Passport®. Crown developed this program to help transferees to adjust, settle-in and quickly add value to their organizations. To read more about Global Passport®, please click here.