Cultural Intelligence and Inclusive Excellence

00:05 In this session, we're going to talk about cultural intelligence and inclusive excellence. And you've heard me mention cultural intelligence several times, I'm also going to refer to it as CQ just as a reminder that's the abbreviation for it.

00:18 And we're going to talk about how we use cultural intelligence in order to achieve that inclusive excellence. Now, setting up a framework for this in all of this work relationships always require trust. So from an organizational perspective and in personal relationships, you have to create a culture of trust and so one of the things I like to think about Peanuts is my absolute favorite. When I say that, I mean Charlie Brown. I absolutely love Charlie Brown. And when I think about trust with Charlie Brown and Lucy and how people tend to lose trust in labor organizations, well Charlie Brown trusted Lucy over and over and over again and out of all those times there was only one time I think that she let Charlie Brown kick that ball. But when you think about it from your own personal perspective, if you're not really working toward trust, then it's going to be difficult to develop that organizational wellness or equilibrium balance that you heard me mention before. So one of the mnemonics that I've created in terms of developing that culture of trust is CANI. So, consistency is one of those things. You have to be consistent in terms of people believing you and you be an authentic unknown author for a quote "Consistency is more important than perfection." And I want to sit there for a minute. Because we all judge ourselves and sometimes other people judge us too if we're not being perfect in that world. Remember, you're human first.

01:53 So, perfection means you're going to get it right every time. Don't even think that's possible. It's not possible, but if you're consistent and then moving on to the next term, authenticity. If you're authentic, so consistent then being authentic in it.

02:08 Even though you mess up, people will be more likely to show you grace. So, Tanvir Nazir had a quote about authenticity that really resonated with me.

02:19 Authenticity isn't about being the real me, but being true to our purpose and values that drive us. So that's one of the things that will help you to be consistent because you're true to what you believe in, what your purpose is, what your values are, and what drives you to be on this transformational journey with the rest of us. The N in the CAN part of the CAN I is neutrality and that means being objective and I'm not sure who the author of this quote is but neutrality is the best of mirrors. Sit with that for a second. Because what that means is what? I can take an objective look at both sides of something. Right? When a mirroring or looking deeply doing that introspection and thinking about it not from a biased point of view but looking at perspective. And then I, integrity. So important.

03:10 And I mentioned that earlier. And I'm going to read that Brene Brown quote again that we talked about earlier in terms of integrity. Choosing courage over comfort; choosing what's right over what's fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than to simply profess them. I wanted to mention that again because it goes back to that consistency and authenticity. So just keep those things in mind as you work through your own personal journey and I also invite you to think about what your own personal values are, what is your purpose, and what are your professional values and what's your purpose in terms of your profession.