Cultural Intelligence: Examining the Role of Cultural Self-Awareness

This essay critically examines the role of cultural self-awareness in developing cultural intelligence. It emphasizes the importance of understanding one's own cultural identity, values, and beliefs as a foundation for effectively interacting with individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. The essay...Read More

Running Head: Cultural Intelligence 0
Cultural Intelligence

Cultural Intelligence 1
Cultural self-awareness is important to develop cultural intelligence
Cultural self-awareness is a comprehension of an individual culturally strong-minded
identity, inclinations, and principles. As they build their cultural self-awareness to not only
understand their individuality rules but also figure out to accommodate other societies’
cultures (Butler, Kwantes & Boglarsky, 2014). For instance, when I was working in the
organization I used to build a corporate culture that is unique to the organization. I perceive
that cultural self-awareness identifies a significant part in maintaining the values and esteem.
Cultural intelligence, on the other hand, is the capability of a specific individual to flourish in
a multi-cultured atmosphere (Chao, Takeuchi & Farh, 2017). The thesis statement is to
examine and critically reflect the significance of cultural self-awareness to build the cultural
intelligence. In this essay, I am going to state briefly about cultural self-awareness, which
helps to be more culturally intelligent.
It fabricates one’s standards and convictions. The religions form part of the culture,
which divides the world (Ott & Michailova, 2018). For example, as per my understanding,
Islam is a religious conviction that has a various number of principles, which affects a large
portion of followers. Therefore, it is a cultural group just like any other religious
denomination. Their teachings give me an understanding that there is more to life than just
the faith and belief, that it is important to consider other life factors other than Islam. Other
spiritual groups may not share the same ideals as Muslims. As a Muslim, I know that there
are different religions and moralities that I need to identify as for how they operate and how
distinct they are from my belief in order for us to generate a consideration for mutual
existence and non-violent behaviour. It allows members of the Muslim group to retain as
their brothers and sisters (Earley & Peterson, 2004). Now that I recognize what my religion
stands for, I improve the interpersonal connection with people from the culturally diverse
background and navigate efficiently through diverse situations i.e. relationship commitment,
communication, and trust.
I would like to centre this reflection on my personal opinion about the fact that
Cultural self-awareness advances novelty and familiarity. I perceive that people have
exclusive characters, which can be easily documented and makes a person feel significant and
cared for. Recognition is another aspect that is significant in the advancement of cultural
intelligence. In my point of view, when an individual is different and sees everything as being

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ordinary, he or she becomes racially intelligent. These aspects help to identify others’
distinctiveness and supposing that the individuality is normal and does not exist. Finally,
being self-confident about one’s culture recommends assurance and therefore they are not
easily overwhelmed by other cultures, which is a significant aspect of the advancement of
cultural intelligence. Individuals continue to follow significantly in the society. I personally
believe that cultures are good; which tends to examine other values for assessment of
determinations. It is critical for these people to recognize their cultures and other individual
beliefs so that such an association can continue. Human beings are certainly social and they
effortlessly associate with each other (Alon & Higgins, 2005).
I consider that having high esteem standards includes those who collaborate with each
other having such shared factors. They apply as a way to increase cross-cultural interactions
and develop patience (Livermore & Soon, 2015). The main reason of cultural self-awareness
impacts cultural intelligence is the mutual understanding of individual and the associations
that they have in their everyday lives. I believe that a person should be conscious of the
diversity of Cultures around like how comparative or diverse it is. A person’s competency to
adapt in a different environment can only occur with his Cultural Awareness like an
acquaintance of Social beliefs and norms, social linguistic knowledge, economy, religious
outlook, and legal system for a better collaboration in a diverse situation.
By building judgments about one’s own thought process to that of others, through
Cultural Awareness an individual can build the Cultural Intelligence and manage the tone,
intonation, greetings, words etc. In my opinion, through cultural awareness, a person can
progress the verbal and non-verbal communication, which can generate Cross Culture
Intelligence to accomplish the effective ways to interconnect in a diverse situation. It helps in
building approach before appearing in front of a socially diverse situation (Richardson &
Molinaro, 1996).
For example, I have observed that the concept of joint family for Hindus has
protracted family living together in the similar home which is a portion of the Social
Structure. We also see the fame of Hip Hop music, which is mostly associated with young
people. Thus, these assemblies have their own individuality, taste, and attitude. So once, we
comprehend the values of dissimilar cultures it becomes strong how we think or react to
explicit stimuli, and enhance our communication skills while interactive.

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I believe that when we have the feeling of Cultural Intelligence, the Inter-cultural
Competence raises anyway. We learn to respond that with a particular group a person has a
diverse taste or opinion of a subject. Thus, it is essential to comprehend the groups’
behaviour that helps people’s goal. The objectives of people are different in accordance with
their perspective of pleasure. The actual comprehension of the Cultural diversities and attain
the Intelligence help Communication gap to be met adequately. In Organisations of today
where people assets are of the diverse and wide base can contend with other industries. In my
understanding, a proper Cultural Intelligence aids in the handling of New Corporate Ventures
or taking the organization into different places with much comfort. New Opportunities can
occur when Cultural Intelligence would be entangled with the strategic development of the
business (Brislin, Worthley & Macnab, 2006).
Theory of cultural awareness also illustrates the perspective of authors. As per the
view of Spencer-Oatey (2012), Culture is related to a social group that offers a similar value
for a product. It is often wrongly presumed that Culture is based on ethnic group or all
members of a specific group have the same features, getting us into stereotypes. According to
Winkelman (2005), adaptability of cultural variances and their impact on behaviour is the
initial stage of intercultural efficacy. It embraces recognition of one’s own cultural impacts
on values, conviction, and decisions, as well as the effects resulting from the specialist’s
work culture. It maintains the skills and awareness to adjust the behaviour while connecting
with people from unfamiliar cultures (Engle & Nash, 2015).
I believe that being culturally capable is not only about understanding different
cultures but also rather starts from understanding your own way of life, “the more culturally
self-aware we are, the more able we are to forecast the effect our conduct will have on
others”. The three steps, which are associated with the advancement of cultural intelligence,
are considering about culture, being driven to modify behaviour and perform suitably
(Groves, Feyerherm & Gu, 2015).
Conclusion
From the above essay, I have concluded the fact that there are several aspects on how
it is influencing cultural intelligence. Culture shows a significant role in the day to life of
individuals and a portion of the cultures has formed the society. In simple terms, it is the
capability to cooperate effectively and confidently with individuals from diverse cultural
backgrounds. The thesis, which critically reflects the importance of cultural self-awareness to

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develop the cultural intelligence, has now succeeded in maintaining in seeking human
welfare. The key points, which I have discussed as recognition, play an important role and the
religion permits members to hold cultural groups and transform the human welfare and
society.

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References
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55
Butler, A. M., Kwantes, C. T., & Boglarsky, C. A. (2014). The effects of self-awareness on
perceptions of leadership effectiveness in the hospitality industry: A cross cultural
investigation. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 40, 87-98
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