Category Archive

Page 2 of 5

We're in a crisis! Why can't we all just get along?

David Livermore | 19 August 2020

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!

David Livermore | 02 January 2020

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.

How to tell if you're mansplaining

David Livermore | 17 September 2019

Are mansplaining and its close cousin, whitesplaining, real things or are they just more pop psychology terms? David Livermore interviews Dr Amy Heaton to find out.

Are all white people privileged?

David Livermore | 01 July 2019

You can’t have an honest conversation about cultural intelligence without addressing 'white privilege', the idea that white people inherit certain privileges simply by the color of their skin. But this isn't an easy thing to discuss.

What's the answer? It depends

David Livermore | 18 April 2019

I’ve gained a reputation for being the “It depends” guy. When fielding questions during a presentation on cultural intelligence, my default response is “It depends!” Let me explain why.

Why you need to stop teaching about cultural differences

David Livermore | 20 December 2018

Far from building real cultural intelligence, teaching people about cultural differences actually leads to stereotyping and perpetuating bias rather than building real understanding.

Emotional intelligence doesn't translate

David Livermore | 24 September 2018

Emotions are universal. But the ways in which different cultures express them are not. So what’s considered appropriate in one culture could get you in trouble if blindly applied to colleagues and friends elsewhere.

Culture fit vs. authenticity

David Livermore | 18 June 2018

Authenticity - being yourself - can sometimes collide with organizational values. So how far should any of us be expected to give up our authentic preferences for the sake of an organizational purpose?

Seven ways to assess your perspective taking

David Livermore | 12 March 2018

You can’t motivate people or negotiate effectively without perspective taking - being able to step outside our own experience and consider something from another person’s point of view.

Charlottesville, Google, and why some need CQ more than others

David Livermore | 21 August 2017

Cultural intelligence is about how the 7 billion human beings on this planet get along together. So whether it's at home or at work, we all need CQ. But some of us need it much more than others.

A white guy's humble advice to black professionals

David Livermore | 16 May 2017

Companies are chasing diverse candidates. But how can those candidates use cultural intelligence to help them find the kind of employer who will include their perspectives as a critical part of their strategy rather than using them to up their diversity counts?

Boredom, smartphones and cultural intelligence

David Livermore | 13 April 2017

Moments of boredom free up our mind to think creatively. But who has time to be bored these days? Most people seem to be glued to their smartphones whenever there’s a moment to spare.

Productive conversations to build cultural intelligence

David Livermore | 21 February 2017

How do we engage in productive dialogue with people who have very different perspectives from our own? The many conversations I’ve had since the U.S. election have given me some ideas.

Emotional differences across cultures

David Livermore | 12 December 2016

Different cultures appear to have very different ways of showing emotion and managing feelings. But in reality we all have much more in common than meets the eye when it comes to how we handle some key human emotions.

Weird, rude, or different?

David Livermore | 07 November 2016

Cross-cultural encounters can sometime be very awkward. Here are a few suggestions for a culturally intelligent way to respond to those difficult cross-cultural situations.

North America's accent problem

Wayne Turmel | 04 October 2016

As a Canadian who spends a lot of time on international conference calls and webinars, it's impossible not to notice that almost everyone can deal with foreign accents except (North) Americans.

How stress can lower your cultural intelligence

David Livermore | 23 August 2016

Working with people from a diverse range of backgrounds is rewarding, but it can also be tough going. And the more you’re under stress, the harder it becomes and the more a small behavioral difference can become a major irritation.

Adapt, but don’t overdo it

David Livermore | 18 May 2016

Fusion cooking is a great metaphor for bringing out the best from a multicultural team because it combines ingredients from different cultural traditions while preserving distinct cultural flavors and traditions.

Melting pot

Janet Howd | 03 May 2016

All over the globe, attitudes to human diversity divide societies. Why are so many of us dismissive of anyone who does not carry the same cultural baggage as we do?

When does cultural immersion go too far?

David Livermore | 18 April 2016

I’m a big advocate of getting to know a culture up close and moving beyond surface-level encounters. But I’m beginning to think that I ought to give up some of the cultural experiences I’d like to have because they may do more harm than good.

Page 2 of 5