Feb 11 2024 58 mins
In this episode, we delve into the significance of cultural intelligence for bridging divides and fostering resilience in societies. Joining me is Dr. Catherine Wu, a seasoned expert in cultural intelligence, who shares invaluable insights on navigating multicultural environments.
Our discussion starts by challenging the traditional approach to understanding culture, highlighting its dynamic nature and the inadequacy of mere cultural knowledge. We explore how cultural intelligence reshapes perceptions, encouraging individuals to see beyond stereotypes and acknowledge the uniqueness of each person.
We then explore the research-backed pillars of cultural intelligence: cognition, behavior, and motivation. I stress the importance of ongoing training to combat biases and establish inclusive team dynamics in multicultural settings.
Dr. Wu underscores the necessity of intentional norm creation within multicultural teams, emphasizing the pitfalls of aligning norms solely with dominant members. We share examples, such as contrasting decision-making styles between Norwegian and Japanese engineers, to illustrate the impact of cultural differences.
Addressing the question of minority adaptation, we acknowledge power imbalances and advocate for inclusive environments, while recognizing contextual nuances where adaptation might be expected.
Finally, we highlight the advantages of cultural intelligence, including heightened creativity and cognitive complexity. Our conversation underscores the value of openness, acceptance, and a willingness to embrace diverse perspectives in today's interconnected world.
Dr. Catherine Wu is a teacher, speaker, and cultural intelligence evangelist.
A passionate advocate for cultural diversity, Catherine is currently working towards telling 10 million people about cultural intelligence through speaking, writing, and creating social media content. In 2022, she launched The Cultural Quotient podcast, the first podcast to grow cultural intelligence at work and in life.
As a speaker, Catherine frequently gives talks and conducts workshops on cultural intelligence for public and private organisations.
Catherine holds a PhD in Leadership and Cultural Intelligence from the Center for Leadership and Cultural Intelligence in Singapore. She is French and has lived in Asia for the past 18 years. She lives in Singapore with her Taiwanese American husband and 3 third-culture kids.
Dr. Catherine Wu's contact info:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drcatherinewu/
Website: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7j4sv0KIw4rIyxOc3IUqz8
Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/07Ig9X29uWFmuohsGzFOIt
Tags
episode, cultural intelligence, Dr. Catherine Wu, individuals, unique, challenge biases, multicultural environments, cognition, behavior, motivation, intentional team norms, acceptance, cultural differences, benefits, increased creativity, cognitive complexity, curious, open-minded, learning, other cultures, practical insights, diverse settings
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