As Canada increasingly relies on immigration to maintain our population, the need for cultural intelligence is becoming paramount.
Those organizations and people who are committed to removing stereotypes and tapping into the wealth of international talent will find themselves sitting on top, as a visible minority in Canada becomes a visible (and much-needed) majority.
Cultural intelligence is the newest accepted facet of intelligence, finding a place alongside emotional, interpersonal, and social intelligence.
Signs of one’s culture appear every day — in social norms, customs, symbols, humour, expectations, beliefs and communication. Cultural intelligence, then, is the ability to grow on a continual basis through understanding and learning of other cultures, and to deal successfully with people from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Why is this so important?
Cultures differ greatly in processes, attitudes, and approaches to daily activities – essential activities in the workplace. Furthermore, cultural differences can be found in communication styles, decision-making styles, attitudes toward conflict, approaches to completing tasks, attitudes toward disclosure, and approaches to knowing.
Thus, it is crucial for Canadian citizens and Canadian organization to have a knowledge and appreciation of how different cultures operate.
Cultural intelligence helps!
Studies have already shown that organizations that have implemented forms of cultural intelligence have seen positive results in the following areas:
• Communication – As culture is frequently at the heart of communication challenges or miscommunications, understanding cultural communication styles (from language to eye contact to technology) helps everyone communicate more effectively, in that common ground is identified, and thus people are able to surpass stereotypes and avoid conflict.
• Innovation – Organizations with cultural intelligence programs in place are able to leverage their diversity and have a competitive advantage, as they are able to think on a multi-perspective, cross-cultural level.
