Lesson 15 Dialogue Cultural Intelligence
Ayla: Having such a diverse workforce is surely an asset, but sometimes all sorts of impediments prevent us from seeing eye-to-eye.
Royce: For sure! I have tried small talk as way to build a tie, but sometimes I crave major tactics to convey deep cultural insights.
Ayla: Unfortunately, I don't think that you and I can take a crash course.
We'll just have to assimilate over time even though speed is the essence of most business these days.
Royce: Sometimes cultural cues are even more important than the message itself in order to be understood and accepted.
Ayla: Right on. We need to practice true localization.
We can't just be here, but we truly have to be a part of the social fabric to create acceptance and avoid misunderstanding.
Royce: It's funny: sometimes products are attractive and embraced because of their "foreignness," and other times they are rejected for that very reason.
Ayla: Exactly, it is hard to know in advance when your product will miss the mark in the foreign market.
Royce: So far, no one has been openly hostile, but we shouldn't mistake that for total inclusion either.
Ayla: Now I see why "cultural intelligence" is listed as a necessary aptitude in the modern CEO.