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Cultural Intelligence

Why Is Cultural Intelligence Important?

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The world is becoming more and more interconnected. As a consequence of this, people from a variety of cultures, ethnicities, religions, and nationalities are working with each other every day to bring the greatest products and services to the global market. You want your enterprise to remain competitive. Thus, to stay on top in the modern business landscape, you should consider the following benefits of improving your firm’s cultural intelligence.  

Improve Workplace Harmony

Cultural misunderstandings are very common in the modern workplace. However, some basic sensitivity training can give employees the tools and knowledge necessary to avoid offending their fellow workers. Such training is very easy to conduct and doesn’t cost much, but it can make a huge difference for everyone in the firm. At the end of the day, your company will always benefit when employees understand and respect each other’s cultures

Understand Customers and Markets

The same product can perform very differently in different countries and regions for a variety of reasons. Moreover, a product’s success is heavily tied to its marketing. If a company does not understand the general cultural norms of every one of its markets, then its products may underperform or even offend certain demographics. By understanding the different cultures and groups of people in all of your markets, you can tailor your firm’s message and effectively appeal to a broader range of clients.

Maintain a Good Reputation

Customers don’t want to do business with a company that makes cultural faux pas. People around the world value equity between different groups more than ever. Thus, it’s important for everyone in your company to be aware of their biases so that the firm can project an image of acceptance and inclusivity. The public will notice and appreciate a brand that treats people well across all cultures, and they’ll also notice the companies that don’t make an effort. 

Impress Qualified Talent

Employees are the backbone of your firm. Without qualified employees, your company simply can’t compete on a global scale. These days, workers don’t have to settle for organizations that don’t respect their cultural values. Consequently, if your company doesn’t make a strong effort to appeal to individuals of many cultures and social groups, then it will miss out on the best talent. Eventually, this will cause the business to fall behind the competition. Your next employee of the month could come from anywhere in the world, so it’s vital that your firm’s recruiters and HR professionals are well-versed in the norms and values of as many cultures as possible.

Strengthen Your Business With Better Cultural Intelligence

All kinds of markets continue to expand across the globe every day. If you’re not doing everything in your power to boost your firm’s cultural intelligence, then your company won’t be able to keep pace with the evolution of global commerce. Unless you want your company to fall behind, it needs to strengthen cultural awareness at all levels of the business. With good cultural awareness, your company can serve its customers more effectively than ever and make the world a better place for everyone.

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Actionable Insights

Leveraging Actionable Insights To Win More Business 

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As an entrepreneur, you run into new challenges every day, which may make it difficult to expand your business. Naturally, you want your enterprise to grow, but broadening your business’s reach isn’t a walk in the park. Nonetheless, achieving sustainable growth isn’t impossible, and you can win more business by leveraging the following actionable insights.

Set Smart Priorities

Some matters are more urgent than others, and you should know which projects will bring the greatest benefits to your enterprise. Before assigning tasks or tackling any work yourself, you should have a good idea of where your business stands. What are the closest deadlines? Which projects need the most attention? Once you understand these broader aspects of your company’s operations, you can break them down into smaller tasks, delegate work, and set meaningful target dates. In turn, your clients will be more satisfied with your company’s work, and you’ll have more time and resources to market your business to new customers. If you’re not sure where to start, then you should sit down with relevant managers and department heads to assess the state of your business’s operations.

Analyze Existing Data

Data is invaluable when trying to establish patterns and understand trends in your enterprise. Luckily for you, your business has been generating useful data since its inception. Bank statements, time sheets, receipts, HR files, calendars, and any other written records count as data. By analyzing this information closely, you may notice patterns that may not have been so obvious before.

For example, after checking your HR records, it may become clear that the company experiences a ton of employee turnover in the summer months. Such a labor problem would surely affect your business’s efficiency and make it difficult to reach new customers. However, upon uncovering this information, you would be in a better position to gather more information and come up with effective solutions before the issue arises again.

Maintain Contact With Clients

A loyal customer is more profitable than a new customer. However, you can’t take long-time customers for granted. If they’re not satisfied with your enterprise, then they probably won’t have a difficult time finding another company to work with. Therefore, you should make sure to regularly check in with your clients to see how they’re doing and ensure that their needs are met. Your clients will enjoy knowing that you care about them, and they’ll also be more likely to reach out to you in the future whenever they require more goods or services. Moreover, your customers may give more feedback if you maintain more consistent contact, and your business can gain actionable insights with this information

Win More Business by Taking Advantage of Data

Information is now easier to gather than ever before. Thus, if you’re not currently leveraging all available data to improve your enterprise’s productivity, then you are wasting a valuable resource. The modern business landscape is more competitive than ever, so you need to stay at the forefront of your market by capturing valuable data and making full use of it.

Categories
Projects Programs and Portfolios

Expert Interview with Rich Maltzman

895 Views

Today we are speaking with Rich Maltzman, PMP, co-author of several books on Project Management, including the Cleveland Award-winning Green Project Management, and most recently, Bridging the PM Competency Gap, co-written with Loredana Abramo, PMP.  The two co-authors offer assistance in PM competence building via their consultancy Continuous Learning Environment (CLE Advisors).

Loredana Abramo, PMP® Worked 25+ years in 4 continents, Deployment lead engineer, operations and services readiness manager, PMO deputy director, senior quality PgM



Rich Maltzman, PMP, has been an engineer since 1978 and a project management supervisor since 1988, including a two-year assignment in the Netherlands in which he built a team of PMs overseeing deployments of telecom networks in Europe and the Middle East. His project work has been diverse, including projects such as the successful deployment of the entire video and telecom infrastructure for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, and the 2006 integration of the program management offices (PMOs) of two large merging corporations. As a second, but intertwined career, Rich has also focused on consulting and teaching, having developed curricula and/or taught at:

  • Boston University
  • Merrimack College
  • Northern Essex Community College
  • University of Massachusetts– Boston
  • Clark University
  • Benedictine University’s Asia Institute (Shenyang University of Technology)

Rich has also professionally developed project management professional (PMP®) exam prep courseware, including exams and books. He even edited and was “the voice” for a set of eight audio CDs—a major part of a PMP prep course for an international company, for whom he has also facilitated PMP exam study groups. Rich was selected for the modeling team for the fourth edition of the PMBOK® Guide published by the Project Management Institute (PMI) and contributed to the chapters on quality and risk in both the 4th and 5th Edition, and provided input for the 6th Edition as well.

Rich has written and presented papers at international conferences of PMI and IPMA (International Project Management Association), and the Conference Board in South Africa, The Netherlands, Costa Rica, and Mexico City as well as the PMI Congresses in North America.  He also presented, on request of the Government of Malaysia, at their Green Technology conference in Kuala Lumpur in 2013.

Rich’s educational background includes a BSEE from the University of Massachusetts–Amherst, and an MSIE from Purdue University. In addition, Rich has a mini-MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a master’s certificate in international business management granted jointly from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and INSEAD of France.  Rich received his PMP in 2000 and was certified by Change Catalysts as a CQ Certified Change Management Professional in 2015.

Rich has co-authored two other books – Green Project Management (CRC Press, ©2010, Cleland Award Winner) with David Shirley, PMP, and Project Workflow Management with Dan Epstein, in 2014.  A new book, Driving Sustainability Success in Projects, Programs and Portfolios, published in October 2015 by CRC Press.  J. Ross will be publishing another book, co-authored by Rich and with Loredana Abramo, PMP in late 2016, Bridging the PM Competency Gap.

Rich blogs regularly at earthpm.com and at “People, Planet, Profits, and Projects”, in the “Perspectives” section of projectsatwork.com, a PMI web site.

Categories
Projects Programs and Portfolios

Interview with Stuart Easton – Strategic Alignment Really Matters! 

867 Views

Stuart Easton is the CEO of TransparentChoice and is a veteran of the software space. His background includes stints working on reporting and data analytics and he is passionate about improving business outcomes for his customers. Stuart lives in the UK and enjoys hiking, mountain biking and playing with his kids. This recording will be our 3rd discussion, and we have a lot to chat about, so let gets started.



Categories
Reduce Stress

How to Reduce Stress at Work

1,222 Views

Five Strategies to Identify and Reduce Stress at Work

The stress response is a natural part of being human. Our brains are wired to prepare our bodies to deal with a threat. When the body senses danger, adrenaline and cortisol course through the bloodstream to release stored energy, increase the heart rate, and prepare muscles to fight or flee. This fast response is helpful in the face of physical danger, but it can be destructive when triggered over a modern threat like a looming deadline or performance review. By addressing the sources of workplace stress and anxiety, you can create an atmosphere that is calm, creative, and productive.

1. Countering a Lack of Control

Feeling out of control increases stress levels. Employees who feel a lack of agency often exhibit frustration and apathy. You will see a drop in productivity and frequent personnel changes. 

Finding ways to offer control can eliminate stress from this source. Allowing employees to arrange their work areas and computer desktops to suit their personal taste is a place to start. Having a flexible work schedule is another way to give your staff a sense of agency.

2. Taking a Communal Approach

There are several personality types. You may know some highly introverted people who are happy to work alone all day. However, most people find a lack of interaction to be a stressor. Isolation can breed anxiety. Simple conversation allows employees to debrief and destress. Building some informal group time into the day will provide community. You may even find that these group gatherings turn into impromptu brainstorming and problem-solving sessions.

3. Encouraging Focused Attention

The modern workplace can be chaotic. Emails, texts, and notifications arrive in quick succession, each one demanding attention. Employees may find constant interruptions thwart their efforts to handle their primary tasks. 

As an entrepreneurial leader, you can model working with focused attention. You might suggest periods of the day where employees silence their phones and stow them in a desk drawer. Checking emails at the beginning and end of the day but not in-between is another more focused approach.

4. Establishing Meaningful Breaks

It is a misconception that a productive day involves hours of sitting at a desk. Human beings can only concentrate for so long before mental fatigue sets in. 

Allowing meaningful breaks is a powerful strategy to reduce stress at work. Rather than a fast, 15-minute coffee break, offer enough time for your employee to take a walk around the block. You might also set aside a room in your office as a quiet, meditative space for employees to mentally regroup.

5. Recognize the Importance of Good Stress

The goal of workplace stress management should not be to eliminate stress but to reduce unproductive and harmful stressors. Positive stress and challenges are what help people grow and expand their abilities. Giving employees projects that stretch their skills may cause some frustration, but it will also lead to engagement and increased self-esteem. Problem-solving can be stressful, but it is ultimately rewarding.

Developing a Growth Mindset to Reduce Stress at Work

At the Productivity Intelligence Institute, I enjoy helping my entrepreneurial clients create teams that thrive. If you want to learn about positive stress, negative stress, and strategies for resilience, contact me for a consultation. I would be pleased to assist you on your journey toward growth.

Categories
Managing Virtual Teams

The Challenges of Managing Virtual Teams 

1,174 Views

Even in ideal circumstances, managing a team is challenging, but in the current virtual environment, overseeing a team has become notably tougher. People are changing the way that they stay connected to others. Today, Zoom meetings, digital communication and virtual phone service are dominating the way that people are staying in contact with each other. 

The Workplace is Becoming a Virtual One 

Companies are enjoying the benefits of hiring people to work remotely. In the last five years, the percentage of people working remotely has increased by 44%. The benefits of a remote workforce include: 

• The option to work from any location 
• Better employee retention  
• Improved balance between personal time and work 
• Less overhead 
• Decreased commutes 

While the benefits of remote work are many, it’s far from perfect. The problems with managing virtual teams include:

• Communication issues 
• Trust problems  
• Productivity challenges 

1. Communication Issues 

Remote teams are usually scattered around the country or even around the world. This means that you may not be able to meet with your entire team personally. While in-person meetings are often a chore, they can be a great interaction tool. 

Communicate with your remote team frequently. Also, be transparent with your staff. Tell them what’s going on with the company, about any new changes and how the company is doing. 

If there’s a lack of communication on your virtual team, then members may experience higher levels of stress. They may miss project deadlines and fail to satisfy your customers. 

When you’re prepared for challenges like time zone differences, intercultural communications and spotty technology, you can keep your team working as a group. 

2. Trust Problems 

Trust is an important element in any relationship including the one between management and staff. When your workers trust you and know that they are working for an organization that they believe in, they are more likely to engage and collaborate with you and other team members. However, it’s tough to obtain this when you aren’t working with them face-to-face. 

To gain trust while working remotely, establish a mission statement. Also, be sure to set aside a time for team building and collaboration activities. According to a recent online culture review by Turnberry Premiere, engaged organizations saw a much higher profit increase than those who were less engaged. They were also less likely to experience staff turnover. 

Interested in taking the Online Culture Assessment, Click Here.

Be upfront about your team expectations when you begin managing a team remotely or when adding someone new to the group. 

3. Productivity Challenges 

When people work remotely, low productivity may be a challenge. They may have distractions at home or elsewhere when they’re trying to focus on their work tasks. Some will struggle with time management while others will work too many hours and burn out. 

To keep your remote team productive, establish accountability. Also, develop a supportive structure system. The good news is that once you develop a good communication strategy, statistics show that virtual teams are more productive. 

Become an Effective Virtual Manager 

Managing virtual teams is challenging, but you can do it effectively with good communication, accountability and trust. If you need help working with a virtual team, contact me at the Productivity Intelligence Institute. 

Categories
Streamline Processes

The Secret Sauce for Streamlining Processes 

1,160 Views

The Best Method for Streamlining Your Enterprise’s Processes 

When you have a big project to complete, you may not feel like you’re up to the task. However, Rome wasn’t built in a day, and although a task may seem difficult, you can do anything with the right mindset and an efficient work ethic. Naturally, you want your team to do a stellar job without wasting time or resources, so you should check out this quick guide on streamlining processes to optimize your workflow.

See the Big Picture

Your team needs direction to succeed. You won’t be able to settle on the right processes for the job without a clear end goal in mind. Thus, before you do anything, you need to clearly define what you’re trying to accomplish. What will your final product look like? What does each stakeholder expect from your team? Once everyone involved in the process has a clear understanding of what they’re working towards, they can move forward with greater efficiency.

Break Tasks and Processes Down Into Measurable Goals

Most projects are extremely complex. Your team doesn’t only need to worry about the final product, but they also have to account for labor costs, legal compliance, testing, benchmarks, and more. Many jobs require managers to delegate work to multiple teams and different kinds of professionals. Therefore, each worker, department, or team should have clear expectations for their aspect of the job. Goals and expectations should not be vague. For everyone to know where they stand, managers should set precise deadlines and measure success with numbers whenever possible.

Use the Right Tools for the Job

Technology is your friend, and you may be able to automate a variety of time-consuming tasks. This will save a lot of money while making your enterprise more consistent, and your team members will be able to work on more important things. For example, Geon, a major PVC producer, used to have a severe problem with late shipments and customer complaints due to their very complex supply chains. However, they reported better cash flow and greater customer satisfaction after adopting ERP software. Therefore, you should consider how technology, tools, and outside expertise can make each part of your workplace’s processes more efficient.

Prioritize the Most Pertinent Tasks

Some tasks are time-sensitive, and you may have to finish certain parts of a project before moving on to other things. Failure to complete these duties as soon as possible may have a bottleneck effect that prevents further progress and forces some team members to sit around idly. While you may want to put some things off until the last minute, it’s better to tackle time-sensitive tasks quickly. Projects can be unpredictable, and you don’t want to be held back by an unexpected delay, so your team must stay on top of time-sensitive tasks and processes.

Record Successes and Failures

No matter how well you plan, not everything is going to run smoothly. Sometimes, you will have an idea that doesn’t work, and other times, you’ll find success in the strangest places. Whether you succeed or fail at a certain task, experience is always valuable. Therefore, you should remember to record your successes, failures, challenges, and discoveries as you make your way through a project. With this information, you will be more prepared to take on the next project, and your processes will be more effective in the future.

Streamlining Processes Will Help You Succeed

Efficiency is vital for any business in the digital age. Everyone has the tools to accomplish great things at an unprecedented rate. Thus, if you’re not always improving your team’s workflow, then your business will eventually fall behind. That is why it is so important to streamline your business’s processes. With a growth-centered mindset, a little humility, and the will to succeed, your team can achieve anything.

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Brain Hacks

Brain Hacks To Be More Decisive

1,227 Views

Some people are natural decision makers while others struggle with the task. The good news is that there are ways to encourage yourself to choose a course of action. Brain hacks to be more decisive include: 

• Getting rid of multiple options 
• Keeping your decisions changeable 
• Clarifying your priorities 
• Knowing that you don’t have to be perfect 

Eliminate Different Options 

If you’re looking at a large number of options, it is much harder to make a decision. According to one brain study, people generally decide to buy fancy jams when they’re offered a limited number of choices instead of a large selection. 

Keep in mind that people love stories. Along with this, humans are comfortable working inside a narrative system that makes sense to them. This means that people search for a place in their story for the choices that they’ve made. 

When you need to make a decision, narrow your choices down as much as possible. Then, give the remaining options a score based on their level of importance. To make it easy, score your choices on a scale of one to 10. Make impermanent decisions based on your instincts using the best information that you have available. 

Keep Things Changeable 

One of the most challenging parts of decision making is measuring the possible results. Making the right decision in every situation is basically impossible, and it includes considering previous beliefs and collected evidence. 

Since you’ll be unable to predict the outcome of your decision accurately, keep an eye out for prospects that let you change your mind if needed. For instance, ask about a trial period that lets you try something out before purchasing it. Also, consider why, how and what you’re making decisions about. 

Clarify Your Priorities 

Make sure that you have a clear understanding of the decision that you’re tasked to make. Review what you are trying to do with the decision. For example, maybe you’re thinking about moving to a different city. Consider what part of the move is the most important element. Do you want to move for better job options or to be near your family? Will a move to a different city be more affordable or will you be closer to your best friends? 

Use this information to make the best decision. You know that you’re in charge of your decisions, but often, people who are poor decision makers tend to head down the path of least resistance. They do this without knowing it. 

Side-Step Perfection 

An inconvenient truth is that good decisions can result in poor outcomes and vice versa. Anytime the outcome of a decision is somewhat propelled by randomness, the connection between the right thing and a good result is disrupted. Try to make the best choice that you can using the information that you have. Afterward, release it. Brain hacks include accepting that good enough can be the right thing. Also, give yourself permission to break out of the status quo system. While you are the one who is responsible for your choices, the outcomes are often out of your hands. 

Become a Better Decision Maker 

Brain hacks can help you become the confident decision maker that you’ve always wanted to be. If you need support or guidance, then contact me at the Productivity Intelligence Institute. 

Categories
Make More Money

Who Makes More Money, Samsung or Apple?

3,926 Views

What Can You Learn From Them

Most people know Apple and Samsung for their smartphones. Consumers wait expectantly for the next generation of iPhone or Galaxy. However, the two companies use different business strategies to make a profit, and both models can illustrate ways to make more money for entrepreneurs.

Samsung: Taking a Broad View

Even if you prefer the iPhone, you probably have several Samsung products in your home. The South Korean company has three sections in its electronics division: Consumer Electronics, Device Solutions, and Mobile Electronics. This arrangement means that televisions, air conditioners, and computer components all fall under the Samsung umbrella as well as smartphones.

Samsung also recognizes that the world smartphone market is changing. As 5G technology comes online, there will be a growing demand for low-end and mid-range products. The company already holds about 20% of the global phone market compared to 14% for Apple.

The Samsung model shows the benefits of diversification. The company has the flexibility to compete in a quickly changing industry. If one product rollout fails to meet expectations, Samsung can rely on established products for continued profitability.

The people who find the greatest success in life and those who achieve their dreams certainly have one thing in common. They know how to attract the resources they need to succeed.

Apple: Tapping the High-End Market

If asking which company makes more money, Apple is the current winner. The company is worth almost $3 trillion, making it the most valuable business globally. Although Samsung has a larger market share, Apple reliably receives a greater share of annual smartphone profits. 

Although Apple has tried to introduce new products, most of its revenue comes from iPhones, MacBooks, and the services that support them. Some economists argue that Apple is shifting from a technology manufacturing company to a technology services provider. They are farming out more steps of the building phase to focus on software and support. In some cases, iPhones contain components manufactured by the Device Solutions division of Samsung.

Apple has reached this level of success by bringing innovative value to consumers with each new product generation. Loyal Apple fans wait with anticipation to hear about the new features of the next iPhone. iPhones have gone from smartphones with a digital camera and mp3 player to multi-functional devices that play games, display media, and track user health. 

There is some question as to whether Apple can maintain this level of innovation. The last few generations of iPhones have focused on less dramatic features such as screen size. At the same time, competitors are incorporating versions of once-unique features into lower-end phones.

An entrepreneur might take some lessons from Apple about developing a reputation for excellence. Apple markets its phones as high-end devices, which increases the profit on each unit. People are willing to pay more for an iPhone because they can trust that the product will bring reliable value to their lives. As long as this reputation remains intact, it will be difficult for other companies to draw Apple users away from their iPhones.

Finding the Right Model for Your Business

Your business may not be at the same level as Samsung or Apple, but there are lessons you can take from both companies. At the Productivity Intelligence Institute, I strive to help entrepreneurs discover ways to make more money that build on their strengths and work with their business culture. If you are ready to develop your entrepreneurial skills, I would be thrilled to work with you.

Categories
Cultural Intelligence

What is Cultural Intelligence?

1,420 Views

Use Cultural Intelligence to Power Your Productivity

You’ve heard about business intelligence and emotional intelligence. If you want to increase your ability to manage high-performing teams, however, you need to learn more about cultural intelligence or CQ. In today’s increasingly diverse workplace, your ability to adapt to these changes will enhance your interactions and 

What Is Cultural Intelligence?

Simply put, it means having the ability to work with people of different cultures and backgrounds. It goes beyond tolerance and acceptance. When we expand our knowledge of other people and what they bring to the workplace, we relate to them with empathy and understanding. 

How does this relate to your productivity at work? An appreciation of culturally different beliefs, values and work styles will give you an edge when it comes to managing projects and people. You’ll improve your ability to communicate with others, enhance cooperation and avoid conflicts. In today’s increasingly global marketplace, your ability to understand and appreciate other cultures will give you a competitive edge.

Cross-Cultural Leadership Is in Demand

According to an article in Organizational Culture, “A core skill that organizations are looking for in their project managers today is the capacity to lead manage global change initiatives in a way that considers the human and social aspects and respects the people affected.” 

Today, successfully managing teams involves understanding the behaviors, motivations and attitudes of people from different backgrounds and cultures. 

Leading with Cultural Intelligence: Your 4-Step Plan

1. Improve your ability to recognize emotions

High-performing people often experience high levels of stress and anxiety. How good are you at reading your team members’ emotions? Studies have found that people are good at recognizing emotions in members of their own cultural group but have difficulty doing the same thing cross-culturally. This lack of understanding can lead to conflict and misunderstanding. According to an article in the NeuroLeadership Journal, “Identifying emotions from facial expressions is an important people skill for effective leadership.” 

How do you improve this skill? Research suggests that being open to learning is key to success in this area. Regular interactions with people from other cultures will actually rewire your brain to be more receptive and flexible. 
Leaders with high CQ “enjoy intercultural interactions and are confident that they can achieve their goals during such interactions.” Acknowledge that others express emotions differently, and listen to them when they express emotions. Put yourself in their shoes as you consider what they’ve expressed. Over time, it will become natural to interpret their emotions.

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2. Rewire your brain with regular cultural interactions

In a fascinating article titled “This Is Your Brain on Culture,” the authors describe a study by scientist Ying-Yi Hon. It looked at the cultural wiring of Chinese and American students at the University of Illinois. The Chinese students had newly arrived in the U.S. 

During the study, all the students received brain scans while they viewed the same pictures. An analysis revealed, “There was a consistent difference between the neural activities that occurred in the American students versus the Chinese.” For instance, in a picture of a sheep standing in a hotel lobby, American students focused on the sheep, and Chinese students focused on the lobby. Chinese students were also more likely to feel anxiety about the strangeness of the picture.

What made Hong’s research more interesting, however, is that she repeated the study several months later. This time, she found that the brain scans of the Chinese students were now more like those of the American students. Hong concluded that cultural differences are real, but they are not permanent. When it comes to culture, our neurological wiring is flexible. 

What does this mean for you as a business executive or project manager? It shows that a culturally diverse environment enriches everyone. People from different backgrounds and cultures can understand each other if they work together on shared goals. If you have the opportunity to work with a culturally diverse team, embrace it. Your differences may seem sharp at the beginning, but you will become a productive team.

3. Learn the business customs of other cultures

Leading with cultural intelligence means understanding the rituals, beliefs and customs of other countries. In some countries, for instance, it is considered rude to show up for a meeting right on time. In others, the exchange of small gifts or business cards is considered essential to any business meeting. 

In an article for Psychology Today, CQ expert Marie-Therese Claes writes that developing your CQ means understanding what different words mean in diverse cultures. “One of the problems in international relations is the misunderstanding that happens because we all speak the ‘international language’ of English but use English words with our own native meaning.”

An understanding of that gap will increase your ability to make meaningful connections with business partners from all backgrounds and cultures. If you want to operate on a global level, this knowledge will help you navigate the global workplace with ease. Some of us learn these skills by living and working in other countries, but you don’t have to travel the world to gain this knowledge. You don’t need to become an expert in other cultures. You just need to have an open, inclusive mindset. 

4. Assess your CQ level

In a case study published in the Harvard Business Review, researchers developed a CQ assessment scale that can help you see where your beliefs about other people and cultures might affect your productivity. We all have strengths and weaknesses when attempting to cross the cultural bridge. Knowing yours is an excellent starting point.

Enhance Your CQ to Increase Your Productivity

At the Leonard Productivity Institute, we specialize in helping project managers and executives increase their productivity through the proven science of neurological rewiring. Our evidence-based solutions can help you achieve the levels of success you deserve. To learn more, contact us today.