Hello KSKOers
I had a brilliant conversation with Loren Rosario-Maldonado about cultural intelligence. I came aware from our conversation with a clear understanding that cultural intelligence is about curiosity, respect and kindness. Join us as we discuss the essence of empathy, humility, and asking good question as a way of fostering meaningful connections and driving impactful change.
Looking forward to joining you on your learning journey!
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation:
1. Getting Started with Cultural Intelligence
Think of cultural intelligence as your go-to guide for connecting with people, wherever they are. Lauren's advice? Start with yourself first. Understand your beliefs and experiences before discussing cultural intelligence at work. It’s all about making the world more connected by appreciating everyone’s unique strengths. By knowing where you’re coming from, you can lead and connect better, whether you’re at work or at home. Applying the ideas of cultural intelligence pushes you to stay curious and keep an open mind.
2. Bringing Cultural Intelligence to Life at Work
Lauren's take on leadership is highly practical. Rather than just talking the talk, she says leaders should walk the walk with cultural intelligence. So, instead of thinking you've got all the right answers, drive discussions and welcome different viewpoints. Ask questions, get conversations flowing and ensure everyone feels heard. It’s all about seeing differences as strengths, which can really help in ironing out any team conflicts and bringing your team together.
3. The Power of Humility and Empathy in Leadership
Lauren champions humility and empathy as key leadership traits. Leadership isn’t about having all the answers. True leaders recognise when they need to learn and listen more. Lauren believes being open about not knowing everything can build trust and empower your team. She encourages focusing on listening and appreciating everyone’s input. This creates a supportive culture, where team members feel valued and understood, which makes for a strong, united team.
4. Unpacking the Choice Framework
Lauren's Choice Framework mixes cultural intelligence, change management, and cultural humility. It’s about taking action with empathy and curiosity. Leaders are encouraged to think about how their decisions affect others, making leadership more compassionate and understanding. The framework’s all about kindness and empathy being more than just buzzwords. It’s a guide to navigating the ups and downs of leadership while staying adaptable and open-minded.
5. Building Executive Presence with Confidence
For many multicultural leaders, cracking the code on executive presence can be a real hurdle, thanks to all the unique challenges they face. Lauren points out that digging into your own cultural roots helps shape your style and identity as a leader. She works with clients to focus less on fitting a mould and more on being genuine. By embracing your own awesomeness and learning from your cultural journey, you can boost your confidence. Ultimately, it's about being authentic with your team, building trust, and creating a place where everyone can shine.
Here are five ways that you can develop your self-aware leadership skills from my conversation with Loren:
Start with Self-Reflection: As Lauren says, self-awareness begins with understanding your own history, experiences, beliefs, and preferences. Take the time to reflect on your own lived experiences and consider how they shape your perspectives and interactions with others.
Embody Cultural Intelligence: Instead of merely talking about cultural intelligence, embody it in your everyday practice. This means actively including diverse viewpoints in discussions and being open to different approaches and ideas within your team.
Practice Humility and Curiosity: Embrace humility by acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers. Approach situations with curiosity rather than judgment. This allows you to learn from different perspectives and fosters a more inclusive environment.
Engage in Empathetic Interactions: Develop empathy by engaging with others in a way that acknowledges and respects their experiences and needs. This involves active listening, asking open-ended questions, and understanding the emotions and motivations behind their perspectives.
Leverage Situational Leadership: Adapt your leadership style to fit the needs of your team members in their specific contexts. This means being responsive to the different cultural and personal needs of individuals, and adjusting your approach to leadership based on the situation at hand.
These actions, when incorporated into daily practice, can enhance your self-aware leadership skills and improve your ability to foster more respectful and inclusive working relationships.
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Nia is an expert leader who talks the talk and walks the walk. She is an academically awarded thought leader in self-aware leadership and practices self-aware leadership every single day in her role as a Director in a Children’s Charity.
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Harvard Reference: Thomas, N.D., 2024. The Self-Awareness Superhighway: Charting Your Leadership Journey. Knowing Self Knowing Others.
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