Leading With Cultural Intelligence: The New Secret to Success - Hardcover

Livermore, David A.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0814414877 ISBN 13: 9780814414873

Publisher: Amacom Books, 2009

Synopsis

Why are some leaders able to create trust and negotiate contracts with Chinese, Latin Americans, and Germans all in the same day, while others are barely able to manage the diversity in their own offices? The answer lies in their cultural intelligence, or CQ. Packed with practical tools, research, and case studies, "Leading with Cultural Intelligence" breaks new ground, offering today's global workforce a specific, four-step model to becoming more adept at managing across cultures. Practical and insightful, this indispensable guide shows leaders how to connect across any cultural divide, including national, ethnic, and organizational cultures.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

You’ve gotten used to managing a diverse workforce. You deal with vendors across the globe. You see people as people, whether they’re Chinese, Indian, Mexican, or American. You know the basic protocols to follow and the taboos to avoid. Still, when you arrive in another country or sit down to negotiate with someone from a different culture, you feel anxious and awkward, and often wind up saying or doing something wrong. You’re not alone. Seventy percent of international ventures fail because of cultural differences. Do you need to speak multiple languages and have a Ph.D. in international relations to succeed in these global times? The reassuring reality is that you don’t need to master all the norms and nuances of the myriad of cultures you encounter. What you need is CQ. That’s short for Cultural Intelligence, a new set of skills and sensitivities that picks up where EQ leaves off.

Leading with Cultural Intelligence is a ground­breaking guide to developing the repertoire and perspective to lead across a wide range of cultures—effectively, respectfully, and confidently. A global leadership consultant, David Livermore presents a proven model for success in any unfamiliar cultural context. It’s easy to grasp and follow, yet radically different from simplistic approaches that focus on mimicking other cultures’ gestures and phrases. Rooted in rigorous research spanning 25 countries, the CQ way of relating to and inspiring people from different national, ethnic, and organizational cultures is an ongoing cycle. You’ll learn how to lead cross-culturally—and continually grow in proficiency and comfort—by applying a process with four key components:

Drive. What’s your motivation for this cross-cultural assignment? How can you increase your confidence level?

Knowledge. What specific cultural systems, issues, and values do you need to understand?

Strategy. What information do you need to map out a successful cross-cultural plan? What assumptions do you need to check?

Action. What communication style and behaviors should you adapt for this intercultural interaction?

At every step, you’ll find helpful summaries and best practices. You’ll also gain valuable insights into common situations, from eating unfamiliar local delicacies to apologizing, through the stories of frequent cross-cultural travelers.

With Leading with Cultural Intelligence as your trusted compass, you’ll be able to thrive in the global business climate and handle multi­cultural hurdles in your own backyard. By raising your CQ, you’ll also contribute to the greater good of equal humanity for all.

David Livermore, Ph.D., is Executive Director of the Global Learning Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition, he is a Senior Research Consultant with the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan, and a Visiting Research Fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He has done consulting and training with leaders in 75 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Visit www.davidlivermore.com

From the Back Cover:

What Business Leaders Are Saying About Leading with Cultural Intelligence, David Livermore’s Groundbreaking Field Guide to Navigating a World of Constant Multicultural Challenges:

“As more companies go global, we need a better understanding of how to function as leaders across cultural boundaries. Now more than ever, our shrinking world needs what’s in David Livermore’s new book!” — Ken Blanchard, coauthor of The One Minute Manager® and Leading at a Higher Level

“­Inspired and intensely enjoyable . . . Livermore brilliantly presents a fresh new way of grappling with the nuances and complexities of cross-cultural experiences. Based on solid academic research and years of personal experience, Leading with Cultural Intelligence is a groundbreaking book . . . A must-read for every twenty-first century leader.” — Jim Kouzes, award-winning coauthor of the bestselling book The Leadership Challenge and Dean’s Executive Professor of Leadership, Leavey School of Business, Santa Clara University

“For those leaders who want to succeed in today’s increasingly global and interdependent environment, Leading with Cultural Intelligence is for you. Now, more than ever, applying this simple four-step cycle will prepare you for tomorrow’s world.” — Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever

“A must-read book for anyone who interacts with people from different cultures.” — Lynn Shore, Professor of Management and Co-Director, Institute for Inclusiveness and Diversity in Organizations, San Diego State University

“An essential tool for working, living, and leading in a world without borders.” — Dick DeVos, President, The Windquest Group, and former president of Amway Global

“This book should be required reading for every business school student . . . especially those Ph.D. students! I am grateful to Livermore for putting this knowledge into such a readable and informative package.” — Cynthia Beath, Professor Emerita, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin

About this edition

• Publisher: Amacom Books
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0814414877
• ISBN 13: 9780814414873
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 219