Introduction
In the era of globalization, people are inevitably interacting with cultures different from their own. Following the golden rule to love thy neighbor, a Christian might struggle to adapt to a new environment without being inadvertently offensive to others. Such a position requires a significant amount of open-mindedness and knowledge on how to behave appropriately, which is successfully conveyed in Livermore’s work. In this review, I will analyze five ideas from Leading with Cultural Intelligence by David Livermore and explain how I will apply them in real life.
Critical Review
The book presents its readers with a slew of information on intercultural relations. Despite being partially focused on business interactions and leadership strategies, Leading with Cultural Intelligence gives valuable insight into the benefits and methods of successful cross-cultural communication. The author convincingly expresses his ideas regarding mutual respect and the universal need to adapt and accommodate differing views (Livermore 2015). I found this book enlightening, as it shares strategies and approaches to communication that can alleviate possible tensions and conciliate those who do not share the same heritage, faith, or ideology. It is paramount for every person to understand and internalize the ideas shared by Livermore, as people are part of a whole.
After reading Leading with Cultural Intelligence, I came to the realization that worldwide peace is not an idealistic thought but an achievable goal for society if people are to follow the concepts from this book. Indeed, personal cultural boundaries, high levels of cultural intelligence, and a degree of open-mindedness can greatly improve society. I greatly appreciate the lessons I have learned from reading Livermore’s work. Its ideas correlate with Christian worldviews, and I believe that this material must be shared between communities to improve cooperation.
Lessons Learned
Cultural Intelligence
The first lesson I want to review is the need to adapt to different cultural concepts. As a devout Christian, I hold my values close to my heart at all times, yet there are situations where expressing them would be inappropriate. Understanding these boundaries and knowing how to respect others’ cultures is called cultural intelligence, which is the capability to operate in any given cultural context (Livermore 2015). It does not imply that one must make assumptions based on their knowledge of a culture. Instead, being culturally intelligent means being empathetic, accepting, and aware of one’s behavior (Livermore 2015). Even within Christianity, there are different confessions that pose a unique culture and may present challenges to someone who is not well-versed in intercultural relationships.
There are obstacles on this path toward a mutual understanding that need to be adequately addressed. Historically, each religion and culture has been considering its ideas superior to others, and this fact impeded cross-cultural communication severely (Bielema 2021). This negativity may lead to adversity, yet it needs to be resolved peacefully for society to function. I believe that taking time to study a different culture is a noble achievement that must be promoted more, especially among younger generations. Learning and teaching about other cultures must be an important part of my mission since this knowledge allows people to push toward universal dreams.
Expanding One’s Perspective Through Intercultural Interactions
It is essential not only not to be afraid of cross-cultural encounters but to seek them and expand one’s worldview. Currently, some communities lack cross-cultural interactions, including historically Christian educational facilities (Swanson and Chavis 2019). Promoting multicultural communication is a necessary step in ensuring that people know how to navigate in a global society. Experiences from such interactions reduce discrimination in society, encourage diversity, and nurture cooperation (Swanson and Chavis 2019). Traveling is an ideal way to interact with different cultures. Tourist centers create an environment that is open to other beliefs while sharing local views through methods already proven to be efficient (Livermore 2015). During my future ministry, I plan to encourage people to travel and experience cultures other than their native ones in-person to genuinely broaden their perceptions of others.
Avoiding Stereotypes
Another lesson that I found essential for me to internalize is the need to avoid any negative abstractions based on one’s culture. Stereotypes may promote discrimination and hinder the natural transfer of knowledge between communities, although there are instances where sophisticated generalizations are beneficial to cross-cultural interactions. It is possible to outline a description of one’s culture with a degree of abstraction, yet it must not be evaluative, universally applied, or unmodifiable (Livermore 2015). Instead, they must be practical, non-obstructive, and based on substantial observations. Understanding one’s cultural background does not imply equating a person to an image (Livermore 2015). I will take more time to consider the individual characteristics of each individual and strive to avoid assuming one-size-fits-all ideas.
It might be more convenient to accept the idea that people from a single region, nation, or religion think and act similarly, yet it is detrimental to my experience with them. Moreover, making such assumptions and basing one’s decisions on cultural stereotypes is offensive. In turn, exposure to other religions or cultures broadens one’s perspective and promotes prosocial behavior devoid of any negative assumptions (Shamoa-Nir and Razpurker-Apfeld 2019). It allows people to be prepared when meeting those who do not share their ideology, faith, or worldview. I will ensure that my future ministry will convey the idea that only by genuinely getting a person to open themselves can one understand their inner workings.
Understanding Boundaries
Understanding one’s culture has its limitations, defined by personal familiarity that cannot be gained through theoretical knowledge or short-term interactions. People are not to be forced into cooperation, nor can they be taught about proper intercultural interactions if their ideology does not support it (Livermore 2015). It might be better to drop a topic if there is apparent miscommunication instead of pushing one’s line. For example, there are disputes regarding the American national identity and its relation to Christianity which show that it is a culturally specific vision (Delehanty, Edgell, and Stewart 2018). Otherwise, a cross-cultural interaction may turn hostile, and it will be unreasonable to keep pushing against a resisting force. Traditions are unique for each community and may not be appreciated elsewhere, making their promotion questionable in terms of influence within a multicultural society (Delehanty, Edgell, and Stewart 2018). During my ministry, I will not seek to establish ideas regarding other cultures, as I am not qualified to judge others. Instead, each person must be encouraged to think for themselves and address any difficulties in understanding through the Bible readings.
Representing One’s Culture Respectfully
The last lesson I would like to discuss is the need to find a balance between acknowledging the differences between cultures and religions and losing one’s identity. The goal of cross-cultural interactions does not lie in understanding how a person must change themselves to be accepted in a different society. Instead, one must realize how they can show respect to others and remain within the boundaries of their cultural space (Livermore 2015). People are expected to blend in within their communities, but interactions with other cultures do not ensure a complete shift in perspectives to the locally accepted ones.
Every individual has the right to express their views and has pride in their heritage freely. Knowing how to adapt to different environments and when talking to other communities is critical, yet it does not warrant losing one’s ability to express themselves (Livermore 2015). Keeping Christian values at heart is necessary when engaging in intercultural communication, as they will guide people through situations that may be inappropriate for a believer. Understanding the concept of personal cultural space can help people to see the boundaries of their freedom of expression and avoid being misinterpreted by an outside eye (Yu 2019). It might be challenging to adapt to this lesson’s idea, but I will try to remind myself that cherishing one’s heritage is as important as respecting other cultures. One does not need to become a chameleon and blend into any crowd.
Conclusion
In conclusion, intercultural communication requires a significant amount of accommodations and compromises, and it is my duty as a Christian to keep my values and respect others’ beliefs. From Livermore’s book, I understood what experiences tend to differ across individuals and how I can improve my chances for productive communication with people from other cultural backgrounds. Leading with Cultural Intelligence is an essential material to read regardless of one’s ideology or faith, as it shares many insights into concepts fundamental for modern society’s progress. The lessons I have learned through this text will serve as a foundation for many of my future sermons, as I intend to usher people to promote harmonious existence in a diverse modern society. Cultural intelligence is a vital concept for Christianity, as it teaches people how to love their neighbors, true to the meaning of this Great Commandment.
References
Delehanty, Jack, Penny Edgell, and Evan Stewart. 2018. “Christian America? Secularized Evangelical Discourse and the Boundaries of National Belonging.”Social Forces 97, no. 3: 1283–1306.
Bielema, Minabere. 2021. Cultural Chauvinism: Intercultural Communication and the Politics of Superiority. Abingdon, Oxon; New York, NY: Routledge.
Livermore, David A. 2015. Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success. 2nd ed. New York: American Management Association.
Shamoa-Nir, Lipaz, and Irene Razpurker-Apfeld. 2019. “Investigating Stereotypes towards the Outgroup: The Role of Religious Concepts and Group Membership.”Basic and Applied Social Psychology 41, no. 3: 188–200.
Swanson, Debra, and Llena Chavis. 2019. “Promoting Intercultural Communication and Critical Thinking: The Impact of Intergroup Dialogue (IDG) Courses at Hope College, USA.” In Doing Liberal Arts Education, edited by Mikiko Nishimura and Toshiaki Sasao, 91–103. Singapore: Springer.
Yu, Yun. 2019. “From Universities to Christian Churches: Agency in the Intercultural Engagement of Non-Christian Chinese Students in the UK.”Higher Education 80, no. 2: 197–213.