Inclusive Leadership: The Benefits of Cultural Intelligence in a Global Economy

One of the biggest mistakes an inclusive leader can make is to interpret the actions of another person through their own cultural lens. Yet, we as humans, do this all the time. Take the simple act of smiling, which can be interpreted as friendly, odd, or even dishonest; it just depends on the local culture. Cultural mismatches of all sorts can make communication difficult and get in the way of effective team collaboration, even if your team isn’t global or geographically dispersed. 

Culturally intelligent leaders get the most out of their diverse teams, because they recognize that everyone has a different perspective and their own way of communicating. They also welcome new ideas and see each interaction as a learning opportunity. By respecting everyone’s unique worldview, inclusive leaders can cultivate welcoming workplaces where people feel valued, included, and encouraged to contribute their best work. The resulting sense of belonging has many benefits, including a more collaborative workplace and a healthier focus on employee wellbeing.

Productive collaboration and next-level innovation are impossible without cultural intelligence, which enables inclusive leaders to build understanding and synergy within diverse groups. Any business that strives to remain relevant, agile, and competitive — no matter where it operates — will optimize its efforts by cultivating an inclusive workplace culture and leaders who are masters of cultural intelligence.