Cultural Intelligence: Improving Your CQ to Engage Our Multicultural World (Youth, Family, and Culture) [Paperback]

David A. Livermore (Author), Chap Clark (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2009 | Series: Youth, Family, and Culture

Twenty-first-century society is diverse, and Christians must be able to understand other cultures and communicate effectively between and among them. Following up on the bestselling Hurt: Inside the World of Today's Teenagers, this new addition to the Youth, Family, and Culture series explores the much-needed skill of Cultural Intelligence (CQ), the ability to work effectively across national, ethnic, and even organizational cultures. While rooted in sound, scholarly research, Cultural Intelligence is highly practical and accessible to general readers. It will benefit students as well as guide ministry leaders interested in increasing their cultural awareness and sensitivity. Packed with assessment tools, simulations, case studies, and exercises, Cultural Intelligence will help transform individuals and organizations into effective intercultural communicators of the gospel.

EXCERPT
What do you do when you encounter someone who isn't like you? How do you feel? What goes on inside you? How do you relate to him or her? These are the kinds of questions we want to explore in this book. Few things are more basic to life than expressing love and respect for people who look, think, believe, act, and see differently than we do. We want to adapt to the barrage of cultures around us while still remaining true to ourselves. We want to let the world change us so that we can be part of changing the world. And we want to move from the desire to love across the chasm of cultural difference to the ability to express our love for people of difference. Relating lovingly to our fellow human beings is central to what it means to be human. And when it comes down to it, Christian ministry at its core is interacting with all kinds of people in ways that give them glimpses of Jesus in us.

The billions of us sharing planet Earth together have so much in common. We're all born. We all die. We're all created in the image of God. We eat, sleep, persevere, and care for our young. We long for meaning and purpose, and we develop societies with those around us. But the way we go about the many things we have in common is deeply rooted in our unique personalities and cultures. So although we have so much in common, we have as much or more about us that's different.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This engaging book seeks to tackle the challenges of cross-cultural interaction in the context of Christian ministry. Livermore, an expert in intercultural studies, urges his readers to become more multicultural people so that we might better express love cross-culturally. While most works on cross-cultural ministry seek to teach their readers about other cultures they may encounter, Livermores book contends that preparation for cross-cultural ministry depends on an inward investigation and transformation. This is what he calls developing ones Cultural Intelligence quotient, and the book explores the knowledge, interpretations and behavior one must develop to heighten ones CQ. While grounded in both theory and theology, the strength of this book comes from the many vignettes from Livermores personal experience in such places as Singapore, India and Cambodia. Questions throughout and a self-assessment test in the appendix give the book an interactive feel, drawing the reader into self-examination and application of the books lessons. Though the book is written for Bakers youth ministry series, all who are interested in the question of cross-cultural ministry will profit from its information and advice. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Back Cover

Improve Your CQ for Ministry Effectiveness

"Written for anyone who is serious about ministry, this book explains why cultural intelligence is essential and what one must do to develop and employ it in the practice of ministry."--Sherwood Lingenfelter, author of Ministering Cross-Culturally

"In an era of drive-by short-term missions, selfish service projects, and ugly Americans, David Livermore brings reconstruction. He does not merely suggest cultural sensitivity; he helps us deconstruct and build something new--a pathway to cultural intelligence that can guide us to be citizens of the kingdom of God while being proactively engaged as neighbors in the world."--Mark Oestreicher, president, Youth Specialties

"Whether you are leading a short-term mission trip, doing local justice work, or simply want to more effectively love others, you are smart to read Cultural Intelligence. You are even smarter if you apply its profound insights to your life and ministry."--Kara E. Powell, executive director, Fuller Youth Institute, Fuller Theological Seminary

"In our increasingly interconnected, multicultural world, the need for cultural understanding has never been greater. Cultural Intelligence is an essential, foundational resource for anyone who desires to effectively interact across cultures. Read this book! It will enable you to understand your own culture and the lens through which you see all other cultures."--Paul Borthwick, author of How to Be a World-Class Christian

"Comprehensive and accessible, this book clearly details the cultural intelligence model for multicultural ministry. David Livermore has expanded the ideas of multiculturalism to include not only national cultures but also organizational and generational subcultures. He provides an ideal text and a valuable resource for building the core skills of cultural intelligence in individuals and organizations."--Soon Ang, executive director, Center for Leadership and Cultural Intelligence, Nanyang Business School, Singapore

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Baker Academic (February 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801035899
• ISBN-13: 978-0801035890
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 0.8 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,113 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #82 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Church Administration
  • #84 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Ministry & Church Leadership > Youth Ministry
  • #93 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Evangelism > Missions & Missionary Work

More About the Author

David Livermore, Ph.D. (Michigan State University) is the executive director of the Global Learning Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition, Dave is a visiting research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore and a sr. research consultant with the Cultural Intelligence Center in East Lansing, Michigan. Dave has done training and consulting with leaders in 75 countries across the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Visit http://davidlivermore.com

Join discussion at Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/leadingwithculturalintelligence

Dave's driving passion is to help leaders see the world and to engage globally with respect, effectiveness, and dignity.

Dave and his wife Linda have 2 school-age daughters, Emily and Grace. Some of their favorite activities are traveling, hiking, eating Asian food, and walking to the local ice cream shop, Jersey Junction near their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must read" for anyone working cross-culturally. September 16, 2009

By Phillip E. Smart

Format:Paperback

Daivd Livermore, in Cultural Intelligence uses the phrase "Improving your CQ to engage our multicultural world." And that's what this book is about - engagement. If you plan on reading the book in your easy chair without having to ever meet, work with, or be challenged by those unlike ourselves, it's a nice read. But if you plan to "engage" with others different than yourself or with those who have different world views, and if you want to be challenged in your thinking and stretched in how you see the world, then this book needs to be in your library.

Having lived and worked as an overseas missionary, an international marketer in the corporate world and now as a missions pastor in the US, I can say that nothing is more important than understanding one's own culture as well as the culture of the group or people with whom you are engaging.

This book presents the tools to understand and improve on how we process seeing through the lens of others who are different than "us."

I especially felt the chapter on Attribution theory and the bounded and centered sets was excellent in showing that how we view salvation and church are influenced by our cultural worldviews. The chapter that speaks to "flexing and not flexing" reminds those going overseas as long-term missionaries of where to draw the line regarding understanding culture and going "native."

A great read that pushes the bounds and reminds us that what is best for the "Other" is sometimes not what we think.

Phil Smart
Missions Pastor - KCC

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars excellent, pithy book February 23, 2009

By Mark Oestreicher

Format:Paperback

dave livermore, the author of the button-pushing, excellent book "serving with eyes wide open", has a new book out in the baker academic line. it's the 2nd book in chap clark's series of academic books for youth ministry. but, really, it's only loosely about youth ministry (some of the examples are about youth ministry). anyone interested in cross-cultural ministry should read this book.

and, livermore talks uses the term `cross cultural' very broadly, suggesting CQ when working with different age groups in our church, when working in different parts of our own country that have differing values, assumptions and norms, as well as when we interact with people in our own context from different racial and socio-economic backgrounds.

livermore takes us through the various aspects of developing a "cultural intelligence" (akin to IQ and the recently buzzy EQ - emotional intelligence). the uniqueness, he says, of CQ is that it can be learned (which is not true of IQ, and less true of EQ). so while this is an academic book, it's also a practical book that patiently reveals the process by which we can grow in our CQ (which, by the way, is way more than being culturally sensitive).

i got to read the book early, as i was asked for an endorsement. here's the "official" endorsement i wrote:

In an era of drive-by short term missions, selfish service projects, and ugly Americans, Dave Livermore brings reconstruction. He doesn't merely suggest cultural sensitivity; he helps us deconstruct and build something new - a pathway to cultural intelligence that can guide us be citizens of the Kingdom of God while being proactively engaged as neighbors in the world.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Old Days of Sorority Life Conformity Have Finally Passed On -- Thank God July 21, 2011

By Susan Klopfer

Format:Kindle Edition

So I remember the days of sorority sisterhood back in the mid 1960s. We sisters of Gamma Phi all had cute, short haircuts, wore the same camel-colored mohair blazers and pretty much dated very similar young men from the same fraternities, especially sisters who were of higher status, members of Greek Council.

While our sorority house was known to be less conforming (some people called us the "zoo") than other more popular houses at the University of Nevada, Reno, we still had a sense of safety in our ability to toe the acceptable conformity line, most of the time.

And when we finally graduated, leaving college and the safety of sisterhood to enter the workforce, what we encountered was really not much different from the institution we just left. The workplace of that era was certainly not as diverse as today; it was not even close. Nearly all co-workers were of the same ethnicity as us (white, Germanic or Irish heritage) and we closely conformed to the accepted dress norms, if we wanted to keep our jobs. Actually, one of my friends was fired from a major pharmaceutical company because he wore loafers with tassles. No kidding.

Today, many of us work with colleagues and customers from around the globe, people who may dress, talk and behave much differently from our former, cookie-cutter sorority sisters and fraternity brothers. To succeed in today's world of business, author David Livermore believes we need cultural intelligence, or CQ. A consultant, Livermore came to this conclusion because he moved from Canada to New York when he was a child. However, he made regular trips back to visit relatives, remaining fascinated by Canada's culture - the different money and way of saying things, the foods and other significant things that keep Canadians being Canadians.

Now a grownup and highly respected author on this topic, Dr. Livermore still enjoys navigating between different cultures, using CQ - "the ability to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts, including national, ethnic, organizational, and generational."

Livermore tells us that CQ is the primary predictor of your success in today's borderless world. "It's more important than IQ or, the current darling, EQ (emotional intelligence)," he asserts.

"EQ is a strong predictor of your success when you're working with people who come from the same culture as you, but your CQ is a much better predictor of how you'll do working with people from different cultural backgrounds - the inevitable reality for all of us over the next decade," Livermore writes in The Cultural Intelligence Difference.

He clearly explains that our cultural intelligence is comprised of four different capabilities based on our motivation, knowledge, strategy and ability to adapt our behavior appropriately for different cultures.

While it might seem quite difficult to change one's CQ, this author gives specific advice making the task appear less tenuous. Most important, he tells us we must face our biases:

"Explore which subcultures really push your hot buttons, encourage your defences or just make you uncomfortable. Any time you meet someone new, make an effort to connect on a human level as early as possible rather than just seeing him or her in light of cultural context. Another approach is to explore your hobbies and pastimes - be it art, sports, or food - in new cultures."

Livermore gives us many more specific ways to become better at operating in and around cultures that are new or different. For instance, he suggests that we "Discreetly watch people from other cultures when you're in public places." Or that we "Attend celebrations of other cultures in your city; eat their foods and attend their music and events. When travelling, visit public markets, shopping districts, museums and art galleries. Increase your global awareness by visiting BBC news online and reading The Economist, for example, or by plunging into novels and movies that immerse you in different cultures. Learn about different cultural values in other countries, how they may differ in terms of factors such as individualism, avoidance of uncertainty, co-cooperativeness, and orientation to time."

Livermore's book is an excellent guide to gaining or increasing cultural intelligence as he points out some of the research and concepts; highlighting some of the critical differences between countries and spelling out specific ideas about how to improve one's CQ.

"It won't transform you overnight, but will alert you to important factors and help you along the path to fitting in beyond your traditional culture," blogger Harvey Schachter advises his followers. (I learned about this book from Harvey.)

And I am going to agree with Schachter, going a step further. Livermore's book is a must read for anyone who wants to survive (and succeed) in today's world of diversity. This means learning how to work well with older people, gay people, transgendered people and just about any people who are not the same as us (whatever this means). Is this important? Ask the CEOs of major corporations who by now should be sick and tired of being sued because an employee called an older worker an "old fogey." Or because a supervisor demanded a female remove the scarf she wears for religious reasons. Happens every day. Don't kid yourself.

This book is especially critical for those who might have just escaped a cookie-cutter world of most educational institutions and are ready and waiting to face reality. For anyone who went to private schools that specialize in all white kids, especially -- my advice, pick up a copy now.

Don't leave home (for work) without it.