Cultural intelligence

With globalisation and digital technology, it is commonplace to work with international customers/partners and multicultural teams, both face-to-face and virtual.

Even though we are all connected, our "global village" has not diminished our differences - quite the contrary!

It is estimated that more than 70% of foreign establishments or projects, and up to 40% of expatriations, end in failure due to cultural issues.

Organisations are faced with a diverse and demanding customer base and multicultural teams that need to be understood, motivated and retained. 

Cultural Intelligence enables you to demonstrate your dexterity and adapt to the diversity of your audiences.

What are the benefits of Cultural Intelligence?

+ Efficiency

Multicultural teams, international projects, international leadership and strategy

+ d'Inclusion

Cultural Intelligence fosters an inclusive culture that values differences

+ creativity and innovation

Cultural Intelligence enables you to capitalise on diversity and innovate

Cultural Intelligence to adapt to all kinds of diversity

The notion of Cultural Intelligence or Cultural Quotient (CQ), by analogy with Intelligence Quotient (IQ) or Emotional Quotient (EQ), is a recent discipline that emerged in 2003: it is defined as the ability to adapt to and manage cultural diversity effectively.

Unlike intercultural management, which aims to compare cultures, Cultural Intelligence proposes a global approach to understanding diversity.

The aim is to turn differences into real assets!

3 forms of intelligence that can be assessed

Ability to reason and solve problems. Cannot be taught.

Ability to understand and manage emotions. Empathy. Evolutionary skills.

Ability to decentralise, adapt and manage diversity. Evolutionary skills.

Did you know?

Cultural Intelligence: a decisive leadership skill

According to a study carried out by the Economist among companies operating internationally in 68 countries, 90% of the executives surveyed felt that cultural intelligence is one of the main leadership challenges for the coming decades.

4 characteristics of Cultural Intelligence

Understanding your own cultural glasses

A desire to understand other cultures

Capitalising on differences & turning them into strategic levers

Evolving skills and continuous improvement

A model that applies to all diversities

The Cultural Intelligence model enables you to adapt your posture, behaviour, analysis and strategy to all types of diversity. 

Colibri World adapts this model to the specific context of your organisation.

CQ Motivation

Interest, confidence and willingness to interact across cultures

CQ Knowledge

Understanding the similarities and differences between cultures

CQ Action

Ability to adapt behaviour and posture

CQ Strategy

Ability to develop a strategy adapted to the cultural context

It is possible to assess your Cultural Quotient (CQ) and obtain a personalised assessment from the Cultural Intelligence Center.

Possible services

Colibri World works with you to develop a customised solution tailored to your needs. Exchanges of experience are at the heart of the entire training and consultancy process.

Examples of services:

Possible themes include

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News and research on Cultural Intelligence...

A new podcast dedicated to Cultural Intelligence!

Launch of the latest book on Cultural Intelligence in Boston in August 2023

The culturally intelligent brain

Cultural Intelligence: The Essential Intelligence for the 21st Century