Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures [Paperback]

Brooks Peterson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1931930007 | ISBN-13: 978-1931930000 | Publication Date: January 2004

Increase your cultural intelligence and sharpen your business acumen at the same time! Whether traveling abroad or working at home, businesspeople routinely face the challenge of understanding cultures different from their own. When misunderstandings arise, relationships can suffer. The good news is that cultivating cultural intelligence is a skill that can be learned, and Brooks Peterson can tell you how!Packed with dozens of engaging case studies and illustrations, Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures is the perfect antidote for cross-cultural differences. Dr. Peterson defines what cultural intelligence is and explores the skills and characteristics required to work effectively with international clients, customers and business partners. Using a set of twenty business-oriented dimensions, Cultural Intelligence helps readers to define their own cultural style in six vital areas: management, strategy, planning, personnel communication and reasoning. With a higher cultural IQ, you can strengthen workplace communication, build solid business relationships and improve your organization's bottom line.A very easy-to-read guide for companies or individuals looking to improve their business cultural awareness. I have recommended it to everyone I work with, especially my boss!* -Adriana Alfaro Zierten, Senior Program Manager Microsoft Corp. *A personal opinion only; it does not represent the opinion of Microsoft CorporationA unique, highly practical, easy-to-read, day-to-day manual [to help] understand and handle cultural differences. It is useful for everyday business interactions with people from all over the world. A must have book for the businessperson's library, Cultural Intelligence can help you break through and succeed in today's competitive global arena. -Augusto Franco, Brand Manager, Andean Region Unilever BestfoodsCultural Intelligence is a must read for all HR professionals (and the clients we support!). The author offers a refreshing departure from traditional discussions of diversity and presents the business case for understanding and building culture intelligence. -Raelyn Trende, Sr. Human Resources Representative Target CorporationThis book contains much-needed practical material and relevant advice for the professional in today's global environment. Written in clear and easy-to-understand language, it's the most approachable culture book I've read. -Angela Qin Zhang, Regional Sales Manager, Asia Pacific, Archer Daniels Midland CompanyCultural Intelligence is advanced life support for anyone to succeed in today's society. It is well written, with creative illustrations, and should be a must-read for anyone in the healthcare profession. -Felix Ankel, M.D., Residency Director, Emergency Medicine Regions Hospital, St. Paul, MN Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine One of the strengths of Cultural Intelligence is its easy-to-read style. Brooks Peterson manages to explain to a newcomer to intercultural communication theory or practice what the concept of culture means, why it is important, what to pay attention to in intercultural interaction and, most importantly, how to improve one's cultural intelligence.-Markus Haag, Editor, dialogin.com ReviewsContentsAcknowledgmentsIntroduction1 What is Culture2 The Importance of Culture in Daily Work and Life3 What is Cultural Intelligence?4 Applying Cultural Intelligence in Daily Work and Life5 Knowing Your Cultural Style6 Increasing Your Cultural IntelligenceAfterwordAppendixRecommended ReadingsAbout the Author

Editorial Reviews

Review

....An accessible, fascinating book, packed with useful, useable advice that no one who works internationally should ignore. -- IGM Notepad, Summer 2004

Basic tenent on learned cultural intelligence is summarized well. Thoughtful tools and useful chapter on using your own language better. -- Edge Magazine, November, 2004

About the Author

Brooks Peterson is founder and president of Across Cultures Inc., an international consulting firm serving global leaders. An experienced cross-cultural trainer, researcher and graduate-level educator, he has lived and traveled extensively around the world and now lives and works in Minneapolis. For more information, visit his website at www.acrosscultures.com. He is also the creator of a variety of instruments and resources for internationally-focused businesspeople, including the widely used Peterson Cultural Style IndicatorT, available online.

Product Details

• Paperback: 250 pages
• Publisher: Nicholas Brealey Publishing (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931930007
• ISBN-13: 978-1931930000
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #96,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cultural Intelligence, March 12, 2005

By 

Rhoda P. Erhardt (Maplewood, MN USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures (Paperback)

Cultural issues are not a new topic, but this book is so well written that it quickly becomes an interesting read and valuable learning tool for almost all of us, because of the world we live in, now and in the future. The author begins by explaining the importance of cultural intelligence for many of our business and personal interactions (with people from other ethnic groups at home and around the world), then listing what to expect (how the book is organized and why), and finally presenting a wealth of information about the topic (with vivid examples of how to apply it to our daily lives). Those examples are a clear indication that the author has accumulated his knowledge through wide reading, a variety of teaching contexts, and comprehensive practical experience in the field. The book identifies common cross-cultural dilemmas and offers practical solutions by outlining primary principles as a foundation for decision-making and describing how individual differences must be considered. The use of continuums throughout the book, and in the tool The Peterson Cultural Style Indicator, ensures that the reader understands and effectively uses the concept of Gray, versus Black and White, in human relationships. A good summary is the equation presented of Cultural Intelligence: Knowledge about Cultures + Awareness (of self and others) + Specific Skills (behaviors).

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful!, August 3, 2004

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures (Paperback)

Imagine a guidebook that helps you navigate the uncharted lands of strange cultures or, at least, cultures that seem strange to you. Author Brooks Peterson is less concerned with social advice than he is with explaining how to manage broad cultural differences and avoid cultural egocentrism. While he soundly reviews measures of cultural differences, such as cultural scales, he avoids delving into complex, abstract theories with little practical application. His clearly written book treats all cultures objectively, covering broad tendencies without venturing into cultural generalities. He alerts you to the nuances of other cultures and your own. We strongly recommend this book to anyone who interacts with the values of other cultures on a regular basis - and, these days, that's just about everybody.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars "Culture for Dummies", March 17, 2011

By 

Tamara "lil woman" (Ecuador) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Cultural Intelligence: A Guide to Working with People from Other Cultures (Paperback)

I am a professor of cross-cultural communication and have used this book for two semesters. The reason why I use it is because it has nice pictures, very simple English and graphs to help explain the issues of culture and I teach in English to ESL students. I give it to them as a "break" from the other heavier readings that we cover. The very sad part about this book is that when one knows the field, it is difficult to read someone talking about ideas that come from others and to not cite anyone, not anyone. Peterson does not even include a bibliography. To me, this is a serious lack of respect to those that have come before him in the field.