David A. Livermore

You've gotten used to managing a diverse workforce. You deal with vendors across the globe. You see people as people, whether they're Chinese, Indian, Mexican, or American. You know the basic protocols to follow and the taboos to avoid. Still, when you arrive in another country or sit down to negotiate with someone from a different culture, you feel anxious and awkward, and often wind up saying or doing something wrong. You're not alone. Seventy percent of international ventures fail because of cultural differences. Do you need to speak multiple languages and have a Ph.D. in international relations to succeed in these global times? The reassuring reality is that you don't need to master all the norms and nuances of the myriad of cultures you encounter. What you need is CQ. That's short for Cultural Intelligence, a new set of skills and sensitivities that picks up where EQ leaves off. Leading with Cultural Intelligence is a ground-breaking guide to developing the repertoire and perspective to lead across a wide range of cultures--effectively, respectfully, and confidently. A global leadership consultant, David Livermore presents a proven model for success in any unfamiliar cultural context. It's easy to grasp and follow, yet radically different from simplistic approaches that focus on mimicking other cultures' gestures and phrases. Rooted in rigorous research spanning 25 countries, the CQ way of relating to and inspiring people from different national, ethnic, and organizational cultures is an ongoing cycle. You'll learn how to lead cross-culturally--and continually grow in proficiency and comfort--by applying a process with four key components: Drive. What's your motivation for this cross-cultural assignment? How can you increase your confidence level? Knowledge. What specific cultural systems, issues, and values do you need to understand? Strategy. What information do you need to map out a successful cross-cultural plan? What assumptions do you need to check? Action. What communication style and behaviors should you adapt for this intercultural interaction? At every step, you'll find helpful summaries and best practices. You'll also gain valuable insights into common situations, from eating unfamiliar local delicacies to apologizing, through the stories of frequent cross-cultural travelers. With Leading with Cultural Intelligence as your trusted compass, you'll be able to thrive in the global business climate and handle multi-cultural hurdles in your own backyard. By raising your CQ, you'll also contribute to the greater good of equal humanity for all. David Livermore, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Global Learning Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition, he is a Senior Research Consultant with the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and a Visiting Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has done consulting and training with leaders in 75 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe. Visit www.davidlivermore.com

The New Secret to Success

Leading with Cultural Intelligence

making a global difference right where you are

What can I do?

master the one skill you can't do without in today's global economy

The cultural intelligence difference

doing short-term missions with cultural intelligence

Serving with eyes wide open

An intercultural ministry expert demonstrates the necessity of Cultural Intelligence for effectively serving an increasingly diverse church and world.

Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World

Cultural Intelligence

Twenty-first-century society is diverse, and Christians must be able to understand other cultures and communicate effectively between and among them. Following up on the bestselling Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, this new addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series explores the much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. While rooted in sound, scholarly research, Cultural Intelligence is highly practical and accessible to general readers. It will benefit students as well as guide ministry leaders interested in increasing their cultural awareness and sensitivity. Packed with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and exercises, Cultural Intelligence will help transform individuals and organizations into effective intercultural communicators of the gospel. EXCERPT What do you do when you encounter someone who isn't like you? How do you feel? What goes on inside you? How do you relate to him or her? These are the kinds of questions we want to explore in this book. Few things are more basic to life than expressing love and respect for people who look, think, believe, act, and see differently than we do. We want to adapt to the barrage of cultures around us while still remaining true to ourselves. We want to let the world change us so that we can be part of changing the world. And we want to move from the desire to love across the chasm of cultural difference to the ability to express our love for people of difference. Relating lovingly to our fellow human beings is central to what it means to be human. And when it comes down to it, Christian ministry at its core is interacting with all kinds of people in ways that give them glimpses of Jesus in us. The billions of us sharing planet Earth together have so much in common. We're all born. We all die. We're all created in the image of God. We eat, sleep, persevere, and care for our young. We long for meaning and purpose, and we develop societies with those around us. But the way we go about the many things we have in common is deeply rooted in our unique personalities and cultures. So although we have so much in common, we have as much or more about us that's different.

Cultural Intelligence (Youth, Family, and Culture)

David A. Livermore

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