A great deal is expected of managers and professionals these days: managing complex reorganisations, working in multicultural teams, supporting mergers and acquisitions, international teamwork… All situations in which people have to work intensively with others. And increasingly with others who do not speak the same language, or have the same way of thinking ‘locally’, or do not work in the same building, city, country or continent.

Cultural intelligence is about the ability to apply your personal style of working and leadership in a way that is appropriate to the cultural context. It is emotional intelligence applied in different cultural environments. Luckily, it is possible to increase your cultural intelligence in a systematic, practical way by further developing your personal competences that are relevant to an international / intercultural context.

A great deal of research has been carried out into what competences are essential for international success. Many, often related, factors are involved in this. HumanDimensions stresses the following 5 intercultural competences:

 

1. Intercultural sensitivity

2. Managing Anxiety and Uncertainty

3. Mindful Communication

4. Creativity

5. Building commitment

These competences can be further developed through training and coaching.

 

Assessments: developing cultural intelligence

HumanDimensions is licensed to use a number of assessments which are great tools to develop the cultural intelligence of the participants in several ways. The following (online) assessments promote awareness and guarantees tailor-made training and coaching.

 

The International Profiler (TIP)

The International Profiler (TIP) is a questionnaire and feedback tool that has been developed to help managers and professionals understand where they typically put the emphasis when working internationally. It helps to raise their awareness of potential areas in which they may require future development, and suggests actions they can take to fill the gaps.

 

In combination with a coaching interview, the TIP provides a great deal of insight into strengths and potential for growth. This results in a personal development plan with concrete actions to increase the international competences, and thereby improve effectiveness. Highly suitable for anyone who is working in an international environment or is planning to.

The International Profiler is based on a set of 10 competences, with 22 factors, developed following extensive research by Worldwork. Full details of the international competences set can be found here: overview international competences set.pdf

HumanDimensions is one of the few organisations in the Netherlands licensed to use this unique and powerful instrument. Click here for full details of the TIP.

 

The Intercultural Readiness Check (IRC)

The IRC tests your current level in four important intercultural competences: intercultural sensitivity, intercultural communications, building commitment and managing uncertainty.

The test is highly suited to people working within the multicultural context of the Netherlands. Click here for full details of the IRC.

The CultureActive assessment

The CultureActive assessment does not score competences, but shows your personal cultural profile. Various researchers (Trompenaars, Hofstede, Hall) have created cultural typologies, each with slightly different classifications of cultural dimensions and value patterns. This assessment is based on the typology by Richard Lewis, and provides insight into how your communication style relates to 'cultures' in the world. A tool that proofs extremely useful in boosting insight and improving competence in intercultural sensitivity.

Click here for full details of the CultureActive assessment.