Cultural intelligence: the holy grail of leadership?

If you spend a lifetime seeking approval, where will you find your holy grail?

“Few leaders realise how much, how little will do” – Lau Tzu, 300 BCE

In the same way spiritual intelligence is the only sustainable solution to the limiting fears in the individual, cultural intelligence is the only sustainable solution to the poverty of life induced by the various organisational terrors.

Culture itself is about energy. Take money. Suppose you want to increase profitability. Profitability is a symbol of the energy available in your business. You can increase energy by working harder – but this is the fool’s way. It creates burn-out and is ultimately self-defeating. Or you can increase energy by working smarter. This is the intelligent way.

Cultural intelligence is any workable strategy that enables you to gain access to and utilise the key to your culture. It is the holy grail of leadership.

Transforming culture can seem an impossible quest. There are many mythologies about how to do it. It’s a common belief that it has to start with those at the very top and cascade down. But those at the head of the beast often fear they have the most to lose through major change and can unwittingly create the greatest obstacles to their own ultimate success.

Cultural intelligence involves considering two profound principles: