Cultural Intelligence: Living and Working Globally

Front Cover
Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2009 - Business & Economics - 222 pages
Globalization means that managers need to be prepared to do business with people from a wide range of cultures. But it's just not possible to learn the particular customs and traits of every culture you might regularly come into contact with. Cultural Intelligence teaches techniques and people skills that will allow you to function effectively in any culture. Instead of providing a laundry list of culturally specific dos and don'ts, Thomas and Inkson show how to disable your “cultural cruise control” and pay attention, in a mindful and creative way, to cues in cross-cultural situations. Over time you'll develop a repertoire of skills appropriate to different intercultural settings and will be able to choose the right ones for any given interaction.

This revised edition applies the concept of cultural intelligence to interactions not just in organizations but also in people's daily lives and features new examples from a variety of cultures. Illustrated throughout with real-life stories depicting what is and is not culturally intelligent behavior, this book will help you become more effective in making decisions, communicating and negotiating across cultures, leading and motivating others who are culturally different, and managing your international career.

About the author (2009)

David C. Thomas is professor of international management and director of the Centre for Global Workforce Strategy at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada. Kerr Inkson is an adjunct professor at the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and an honorary professor at Excelerator: New Zealand Leadership Institute at the University of Auckland.