Culture Intelligence

We have Intelligence Quotient(IQ) to measure our intelligence and know-what-how of things in this world; Emotional Intelligence(EQ) to have our emotional quotient calculated in every abstract way we could think of. Well, how precise can we be if we would talk about emotions and feelings? Not unless we read those of Husserl's and Heidegger's idealogies. But that is another different direction...

CULTURE INTELLIGENCE
Have we heard about this before? About how well equipped are you to handle human interaction especially if it comes from different level and dimension.
Culture Intelligence is all about being aware and sensitive of the existence of different people on this planet. Also by having this skill, it improves your way of communicating. Imagine easy bondings and multi-cultural circle of friends...

So how do we go about practicing this new knowledge? I reckon, the first thing we must do is to research deeply about a certain culture. Secondly, in order to absorb a new language/knowledge/information, one must have a clear and open mind of wanting to learn the discovery. Hence when we learn about this CQ, we would stick by the motto of
N O A S S U M P T I O N S ! ! ! ! !

Yes, seriously not even a slightest assumption of how people could turn out to be. World has revealed to us that we have so many culture to deal with and learn.
The equation is:

Knowledge about Cultures (facts and cultural traits) +
Awareness (of yourself and others) +
Specific Skills (behaviours) = Cultural Intelligence

Being culturally sensitive we would say that we'll be able to identify the things sorted out in the 'Iceberg' form. The tip of the iceberg which signify things that are visible, physical and concious; whereas underneath the iceberg would reveal our softskills to identify qualities of a more discreet value in a culture.

5 Basic Culture Scales

Equality <---------------------> Hierarchy
Direct <---------------------> Indirect
Individual <---------------------> Group
Task <---------------------> Relationship
Risk <---------------------> Caution

From these scales, cultures are weighted and measured to their respective perspectives of values in life. For example, Eastern cultures has the scales weighted to being more of a Hierarchy type of family lineage and dominance. Interactions being indirect of having considerations towards community's feelings. Values are evaluated in Group, thus having someone who had a different idea being an 'outcast'(mostly, in a very conservative society). Chores are more like a relationship, mothers tend to the kids, mending the house and does all the cooking while the men go out and collect earnings for the family, thus the daughters will follow after their mom's role and same goes to the sons. Lastly, all actions taken were more of a caution instead of a risk, so actions that play safe is more anticipated than of a gamble.

Thus this sums up the Cultural Intelligence discourse.

References:
1. Peterson, Brooks, Cultural Intelligence, 2004, Maine USA,
Intercultural Press
2. VANK Korean Friends