Cultural Intelligence
Global trends to watch in 2024
25 Jan 2024 | David Livermore
Building a more culturally intelligent world requires keeping an eye on what’s going on globally. So I can’t help but wonder what 2024 might hold for us and what trends we should be anticipating and watching.
Why emotional intelligence is not enough
22 Dec 2023 | David Livermore
Emotional intelligence and cultural intelligence are like fraternal twins. They’re not the same person, but they share the same DNA and the family resemblance is unmistakable.
How to deliver effective diversity training
26 Oct 2023 | David Livermore
There is plenty of valid criticism about diversity training. But an approach that addresses “what’s in it for you” and confronts real-world challenges goes a long way towards delivering effective learning opportunities.
Diverse teams and psychological safety
08 Sep 2023 | David Livermore
There’s been a surge of interest recently about the importance of psychological safety, and rightfully so. But like many good things, it's better not to have too much of it.
Culturally intelligent teams: different values, same norms
05 Jul 2023 | David Livermore
Understanding cultural differences on a diverse team does not automatically translate into better performance. Instead, leaders need to develop team norms that are both inclusive and unifying.
Communication differences on diverse teams
17 May 2023 | David Livermore
Differences in communication styles can be a constant source of conflict on diverse teams. Understanding these differences is key to building trust, avoiding misunderstandings and leading more effectively.
Leadership advice you should ignore
14 Apr 2023 | David Livermore
So much advice to leaders and entrepreneurs is ill suited to leading in today's digital, diverse world. It often includes kernels of truth, but much of it needs a major rethink, starting with these.
Five questions culturally intelligent leaders ask themselves everyday
20 Mar 2023 | David Livermore
While cultural intelligence (CQ) needs to inform big picture strategic and operational issues, where it really comes to life is in the everyday practices of a leader.
The power of figured worlds
17 Feb 2023 | David Livermore
Figured worlds - the social contexts where we feel most comfortable - are everywhere. They might be countries, racial groups, fashions, friend groups or religions - and we underestimate their power at our peril.
How culturally intelligent leaders make decisions
14 Nov 2022 | David Livermore
What does culturally intelligent decision-making look like for today's global leader? It's certainly not as simple as "just make a decision."
The leadership trust crisis
08 Jul 2022 | David Livermore
Across the world, trust in leadership is at an all-time low. But global leaders also need to be mindful that many approaches to rebuilding trust are biased toward Western values.
How to talk about the elephant in the room
02 Jun 2022 | David Livermore
Knowing how to identify and constructively address unresolved conflict in different cultural situations is a key skill for global leaders.
Presenting to diverse audiences
28 Mar 2022 | David Livermore
Presentation skills are a critical part of being an effective leader. But the more diverse your audience, the more you have to plan ahead and adjust the way you present.
What is a 'global' leader?
24 Jan 2022 | David Livermore
'Global leadership' is one of those fancy terms that gets used in glossy consulting reports and EMBA marketing briefs. But what does it actually mean?
The biggest source of conflict on diverse teams
13 Dec 2021 | David Livermore
Clashing expectations are the main source of conflict in almost any relationship. And nowhere is that more true than with the intercultural challenges of diverse teams.
The culturally intelligent team
18 Aug 2021 | David Livermore
It's harder to get things done on a diverse team. But with moderate to high levels of cultural intelligence, diverse teams can outperform homogeneous teams in a number of important ways.
Cultural intelligence and competing with robots
23 Mar 2021 | David Livermore
The dystopian view of a future overrun by robots forgets that the human brain gives us some things technology cannot compete with, namely our ability to adapt and create.
The group excluded from diversity programs
18 Nov 2020 | David Livermore
The US is a divided nation, in part because many working class individuals believe progressives and diversity advocates have compassion for everyone - except them. Might they be right?
We're in a crisis! Why can't we all just get along?
19 Aug 2020 | David Livermore
Even faced by a global pandemic, we don't seem able to bridge our tribal divides and leverage our differences to find solutions, rather than using them to further destroy us.
When is it appropriate to yell at someone? Depends on where you’re from!
02 Jan 2020 | David Livermore
There's a wide variation in what we deem as 'appropriate' ways to express frustration. At the heart of this is the difference between Neutral and Affective behavior - differences that can quickly lead to profound misunderstandings.