From the reading, there is compelling evidence demonstrating that cultural intelligence is defined as an individual’s capability to deal effectively in culturally diverse settings, that culturally intelligent individuals engaged in global assignments understand what constitutes intelligent behaviors in different cultures through their emotional, cognitive, motivational and behavioral cultural intelligence, and that a propensity to suspend judgment or to think before acting is required to achieve cultural intelligence (Earley & Mosakowski 139-141).
The authors present a self-assessment tool consisting of three typologies and scores of cultural intelligence, namely cognitive cultural intelligence, physical, cultural intelligence, and emotional/motivational cultural intelligence (Earley & Mosakowski 143).
Upon completing the self-assessment, it is evident that my level of cultural intelligence is as follows: cognitive cultural intelligence = 4; physical cultural intelligence = 4.5; and emotional/motivational intelligence = 2.25.
Consequently, upon reflection, it is clear that efforts need to be undertaken to develop the emotional/motivational cultural intelligence component, especially in having confidence to deal with people from a different culture (score = 2), befriending individuals whose cultural backgrounds are different from mine (score = 2), and having the capacity to adapt to the lifestyle of a different culture with relative ease (score = 2).
All the limitations described above are emotional/motivational oriented, hence the need to develop and strengthen the amount of energy that can be proactively directed at cultural learning and adjustment, with the view to improving the confidence to deal with people from a different culture.
Additionally, there is need to focus attention to developing intrinsic motivational faculties geared toward engaging in interactions with individuals from a different culture, and also improving the level of emotional competence required to interact effectively in a culturally diverse environment (Earley & Mosakowski 140-143).
It is believed that emotional/motivational cultural intelligence not only facilitates the possibility of people on international assignments to proactively engage in experiential learning and become more productive but also drives these individuals to internalize further behavioral cultural intelligence, which then facilitates them to act according to culturally accepted rules and actively adjust to culturally diverse environments.
Another area of development aimed at enhancing the emotional/motivational cultural intelligence component resides in facilitating the attainment of a propensity to suspend judgment or to think before acting, with the view to using senses to register all the ways that individuals in global contexts may be different from those in home environments yet similar to one another (Earley & Mosakowski 140).
According to these authors, it is essential to observe the conduct of individuals up until a point whereby the observation begins to settle into patterns to develop anticipatory faculties of how these individuals will react in the next situation, and also draw inferences that will be free of the routine hazards of stereotyping.
This way, it would be easier to befriend individuals whose cultural backgrounds are different, have the confidence to deal with them, and also develop the capacity to adapt to the lifestyles of these people.
Lastly, in light of the limitations noted, it would be plausible to develop the body, heart, and head, with the view to understanding the impulse behind the observed shifts in cross-cultural contexts, facilitating the capacity to alter appearance and emotions as the situation may demand.
Enhancing the emotional capability to effectively deal and interact with people whose cultural backgrounds may be different from our very own (Earley & Mosakowski 142). The efficient combination of the three components (body, heart, and head), given the authors, is of paramount importance in the development of a well-rounded cultural intelligence capability.
Works Cited
Earley, P. Christopher and Elaine Mosakowski. “Cultural Intelligence.” Harvard Business Review. 83.1 (2004): 139-146. Web.