All you need is....

It struck me recently, that my blogs may seem to suggest that all you need to be successful in a global workforce is cultural intelligence (CQ). 

Recently I’ve talked about the importance of CQ in areas such as managing racism, building networking skills and effective global teams, and in cultural integration.  And if you’ve been receiving this newsletter regularly, then you’re probably well aware that I also think CQ is essential for expatriate success!

But that’s not all that is required.   

Organisational factors also significantly influence expat success.  We all know the importance of role clarity and targeted selection.  The most culturally intelligent individual will perform poorly if they don’t know what is required of them or if they don’t have the competency and skill to do the job. 

We know that expat employees who are successful are more likely to have families who have adjusted well. 

The logistical support provided by the organisation also has an impact on successful adjustment enabling expats to settle in well.  The safety and security of the work / local environment, mentoring and other social supports are all key factors identified by research as having an impact on successful adjustment.

Having said all that, when it comes to individual factors, CQ is the best indicator of future success in a global environment.  We can’t assume that someone performing a role skillfully at home will continue to perform in the same way overseas. We need to predict their ability to adjust culturally and to perform effectively in a completely different environment.

More than IQ, more than EQ, and more than previous international experience, research shows that CQ can predict who will be more successful in situations of diversity.

If you would like to talk more with me about cultural intelligence, or if you would like to see a sample CQ report or to conduct a sample assessment, contact me.