David Livermore
David Livermore is a thought leader in cultural intelligence (CQ) and global leadership and the author of "Leading with Cultural Intelligence". He is president and partner at the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan and a visiting research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
We’re in a crisis! Why can’t we all just get along?
19 Aug 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!
02 Jan 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
17 Sep 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?
01 Jul 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
18 Apr 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
20 Dec 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
24 Sep 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
18 Jun 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
12 Mar 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.
The biggest source of conflict on diverse teams
22 Nov 2017
Clashing expectations are the main source of conflict in almost any relationship. And nowhere is that more true than on diverse teams, where intercultural challenges mean that the potential for misalignment is even greater.
Charlottesville, Google, and why some need CQ more than others
21 Aug 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
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
13 Apr 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
21 Feb 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
12 Dec 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?
07 Nov 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.
Overcoming diversity fatigue
16 Sep 2016
Too many diversity initiatives fail because they’re based on a punitive, ‘shame on you’ posture. What we need is a strategic, hope-filled approach emphasizing what we all gain from more diverse and inclusive workplaces and communities.
How stress can lower your cultural intelligence
23 Aug 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.
Measuring and improving cultural intelligence
01 Aug 2016
The research behind cultural intelligence (CQ) continues to expand. Here are some of the highlights along with some useful books and video clips for diving in further or introducing them to others.
Adapt, but don’t overdo it
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.
When does cultural immersion go too far?
18 Apr 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.
Cultural intelligence and the power of attention
10 Dec 2015
Giving undue attention to negative feelings shrinks your world and your breadth of perspective. Focus on the positive and you’ll expand your view. This is the power of attention. And in culturally diverse teams, it’s absolutely critical.
More from David
Dealing with a different sense of urgency
12 Nov 2015
One of the biggest frustrations when working across cultures is a different sense of urgency, follow-through, and deadlines. Whatever your relationship with time, here are some guidelines to address this challenge.
The dilemmas of a travelling white guy
20 Oct 2015
When I’m travelling, I’m routinely given the best places to sit in restaurants, granted access to exclusive lounges I haven’t paid for and escorted round queues simply because I’m a well-dressed, white American male.
What diversity matters most?
23 Sep 2015
Diversity of thought, work style, function and age are all important forms of difference. But not all diversity is equal. The two types of diversity that matter most are visible diversity and under-representation.
Racist comments, Facebook rants and cultural intelligence
14 Aug 2015
What should you do when you run up against friends, family members, colleagues or clients who make little effort to engage with others with any degree of cultural intelligence?
The business case for cultural intelligence
07 Jul 2015
Whether it’s expanding in emerging markets, avoiding an embarrassing cultural faux pas, or attracting best talent, the ability to work effectively across cultures addresses a burgeoning number of organizational concerns.
10 tips for negotiating across cultures
11 May 2015
Regardless of the cultural context, the objective in negotiation is to reach an agreement that mutually satisfies both parties’ interests. Accomplishing that across cultures requires a high level of cultural intelligence.
Is the problem cultural or something else?
16 Feb 2015
Cross-cultural communication can be fraught with difficulties. And few things demonstrate cultural intelligence more strongly than being able to tell when a problem is cultural and when it’s not - and then deciding how to respond.
Cultural intelligence in an age of terrorism
13 Jan 2015
There are no easy answers to the hatred and rage that drives someone to kill a fellow human begin in cold blood simply because they disagree with them. So what is a culturally intelligent response to the horrific events in Paris last week?
Respect is not enough
20 Oct 2014
I’m often asked, “isn’t cultural intelligence basically a matter of respect?” But the trouble is that we can’t always judge people's intent through their behavior. And moreover, the greater the cultural distance, the more likely your respect won’t be interpreted as such.
So I'm biased. Now what?
12 Sep 2014
We’re all biased. But an awareness of these biases doesn’t automatically lead to change or stop them creeping into everyday decisions. If you want to navigate through cultural situations with both respect and effectiveness, you need a plan to improve your cultural intelligence.
Cultural misunderstandings and the elephant in the room
15 Aug 2014
One of the biggest causes of misunderstandings and conflict in multicultural teams is the difference between direct and indirect communication styles. So how can those who like to get straight to the point work harmoniously with others who expect issues to be addressed more subtly?
10 tips for more culturally intelligent travel
09 Jun 2014
It's been said that 'international travelers are like dogs in an art museum. They see everything and appreciate nothing.' But it doesn’t have to be like that. Here are 10 ways to improve your travel experiences.