Nelson Mandela – An example of high Cultural Intelligence (CQ)

I first heard of Nelson Mandela as a uni student on protest marches in the 80s. 

“Remember Sharpeville, Remember Soweto, Remember Mandela.”

 At that point my focus was on a cause rather than on a man.  Then I learnt more about his life, his experiences and his journey and grew to admire him and gain inspiration from him. 

Since his death others have written about his strengths and his deeds, and many of his qualities. I want to focus on one aspect; his cultural intelligence – a capability he demonstrated in many ways.

Mandela’s CQ Drive was high –he was highly motivated to interact well with people regardless of their cultural backgrounds. 

“I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die”  Extract from his speech at the Rivonia treason trial in April 1964,

His CQ Knowledge was high.  He worked to understand others, their motivations, their language and their joys and sorrows. While in prison he studied the Afrikaans language and the history of his land from the Afrikaners’ perspective. 

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.”

“If you want to make peace with your enemy you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner,” he wrote in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom.

His CQ Strategy was also high.  He had strong awareness of his own emotional responses that could impact on his ability to work with the Afrikaners who were the political leaders at the time of his release and whom he hoped to unite and lead. 

 “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom,” he said, “I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

His CQ Action was demonstrated often in his willingness to change languages, change behaviours, and interact in a way that others could easily relate with.

One of his most moving quotes for me is this one from his autobiography;

“No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.” Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom

Vale Madiba, we will remember you.