Introduction
Leading with Cultural Intelligence, by David Livermore, writes to inform readers of how
CQ can help and improve our ability to communicate with the Word of God effectively while
building stronger leaders in our ministry and the community God has placed us in. Livermore’s
book writes of CQ as the capability to work and relate to others while being effective in
culturally diverse situations. As leaders and stewards of God’s creation, we must learn how to
reach people of cultures that are different from ours and help lead them to Christ. To do this, we
need to have a clear understanding of the other culture’s traditions, beliefs, and values so we can
lead them to the right path.
CQ Relevance
The concept of CQ and being equipped to interact with other cultures is an important trait
to adapt to. In the area of marketing CQ is especially important when reaching cultures,
representing cultures, and performing in the workplace. To best reach a certain market or culture
in this case, one needs to know what methods of advertising will best reach that culture. For
example, if one was trying to market to middle school kids, he would not use a newspaper to
reach them. Rather he would use Tik Tok or Instagram. A method that is enticing to middle
school children. Having cultural intelligence in marketing also goes beyond reaching people. It is
important to consider that marketing means representing a culture in an intelligent and culturally
correct form. Advertising and marketing have power in shaping cultural norms and attitudes
therefore it is important to learn the culture one is promoting. If done without cultural
intelligence, marketing could perpetuate stereotypes and inaccurately represent a certain culture.
Cultural Intelligence in marketing is also best performed in the work environment. When
working, I will need to be conscious of how the business is run. I will need to be aware of what
they stand for and what they think is right. From that analysis, I can adapt and act accordingly to
the culture. Livermore writes the importance of CQ in a leader. It gives an understanding of
culturally varied customers, offers the tools needed to lead diverse groups, teaches how CQ helps
in the recruiting and retention of culturally diverse talents, informs how CQ helps one another to
learn an adaptive leadership style while instructing the leader to have respect for the cultures as
they are.
CQ Strengths and Weaknesses
In Livermore’s book, He describes a “four-step process for developing cultural
intelligence” which includes CQ Drive, CQ Knowledge, CQ Strategy, and CQ action.1 CQ refers
to the desire to learn more about cultures or the motivation you must pursue other cultures. I
would consider myself to have a high level of CQ drive. I have a passion for learning about other
cultures. I also have a strong desire to work with other cultures and grow my knowledge of their
cultural values, beliefs, and norms. CQ knowledge is the retained understanding of another
culture’s values, ideas, and way of life. I do not have a substantially high level of CQ knowledge.
Rather I would consider my CQ knowledge to be lower. Although I have a desire to learn about
other cultures, I do not know a lot about other cultures. Third, CQ Strategy can be described as
how knowledge is appropriately planned out. Livermore describes CQ strategy as “it requires
turning off the cruise control to become more conscious and alert about our surroundings.” The
idea of CQ strategy requires perceptiveness which makes room for preparation and planning to
best treat cultures. One of my strengths is in planning, therefore I see myself proficient in the
area of CQ strategy. If I have a good understanding of the culture, I can strategically plan
1 LIVERMORE, DAVID. Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success. AMACOM, 2021.
methods to reach a certain culture. Livermore defines CQ Action as “the extent to which we
appropriately change our verbal and nonverbal actions when we interact across cultures.”2 When
I am surrounded by different personalities, accents, or behaviors, I tend to take on those
attributes. For example, I had a friend back home who had the thickest southern accent and was
pigeon-toed. Every time I would come home from that friend’s house, my mom would comment
on the way I walked or the way I talked because it reflected that of my friend’s. Unconsciously, I
take on the cultural characteristics and adapt to the norms of others, thus I would consider myself
to have a high level of CQ action.
CQ Changes from This Course
This class has been eye-opening for me. Never did I consider how much depth there was
to the concept of culture. Livermore states that “about 70% of international ventures fail because
of cultural differences.”3 Although it might sound like common sense, the importance of cultural
intelligence often is not talked about as much as it should be. Culture goes beyond how the
people act in America as opposed to how they act in Greece. Culture can differ from community
to community, church to church, club to club. Culture is vast and the cultural differences
amongst those different groups are even more vast. Livermore writes, “My experience is what’s
normal and best,”4 which describes so many when considering culture. So often I catch myself
falling into the stronghold of comfortability. Especially being raised in the church, I have grown
2 LIVERMORE, DAVID. Leading with Cultural Intelligence: The Real Secret to Success. AMACOM, 2021.
3LIVERMORE. Leading with Cultural Intelligence.
4 LIVERMORE. Leading with Cultural Intelligence.
so accustomed to the culture of my church. However, this class has taught me to be open to all
cultures but more so be open to experiencing different cultures. Rather than learning about other
cultures, be open to experiencing different cultures. This class and the reading have taught me
how to expand my cultural intelligence. Livermore gives the reader advice on how to improve
cultural intelligence. Evaluate yourself based on the four aspects of cultural intelligence. This
class has caused me to reflect on those four areas and ask myself. How can I improve in those
areas? This question has pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and expand my cultural
intelligence.
Increasing My CQ
Attending Liberty University has given me a new awareness of cultural differences.
Every day on campus I encounter several different types of people with different styles,
personality types, manners, etc. However, sometimes I get caught in the Liberty University
atmosphere and forget about the culture of those outside the “Liberty bubble.” There are two
areas specifically that I am pursuing in efforts to increase my cultural intelligence. This past
semester I joined Young Life, which is a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school,
high school, and college students.
My goal is to learn more about their culture as students being emersed in public school while
navigating life. This opportunity allows me to expand my CQ knowledge, CQ drive, CQ strategy,
and CQ action. Another area that I plan to explore to increase my cultural intelligence is the
church. Healthy church culture is so important to the success of a church. As I get involved in the
church I look forward to learning about the policies and procedures they have set up to reach
different cultures. The church also consists of many different cultures. One downfall of being a
college student is being surrounded by young people for the majority of my time. I love the
opportunity of meeting older cultures and learning about their walks of life, values, and norms.
The vast difference in culture between young people and older people is a breath of fresh air and
something to be honored.
Cultural Intelligence Essentiality
I believe that cultural intelligence is an essential part of the process of becoming a
disciple and making disciples. Cultural intelligence allows Christians to spread the word of God
more effectively. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you, always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt 28:19) In order to fulfill the
Great Commission CQ is required. Having cultural intelligence is very important because we
must know the people or audience we are engaging. A simple phrase or facial expression
although it might not mean anything to someone in my family could be interpreted as
disrespectful to someone from another culture. You cannot offend someone and then minister to
them, Cultural intelligence gives us the knowledge to be able to plan, understand minister
accurately. The message of the Great Commission does not mean one needs to hop on a plane
and fly out to North Africa. There are opportunities for discipleship in our backyard. For
example, ministries like Young Life reach out to kids in schools. Our job is to know how to reach
those kids. This might look different for different kids but using CQ action to build relationships
with these kids is so important so that you can grow in CQ knowledge and eventually minister to
those kids. Discipleship might look completely different though across the world. Kids in Africa
do not respond the same way as kids do in America. Expanding one’s cultural intelligence is
necessary to disciple and minister to youth, whether it be in a suburb of Arkansas or hut in
Ethiopia.
Conclusion
Cultural intelligence is a big topic of discussion today, and it is a crucial thing for
people to have. No matter what field you are going into in the future, it is vital to have cultural
intelligence. My goal is to expand my CQ in my career in marketing. However, when it comes to
CQ, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. We must be able to know our strengths and
weaknesses so we can better ourselves to better others. One way I have enhanced my
understanding of CQ is by taking this course. It has opened my eyes and changed my perspective
on so many things. One of those is the way I can grow my CQ right where I am. CQ is vital to
us, sharing the gospel, and being able to disciple others. We should not sit around assuming we
know about other cultures relying on stereotypes. Rather we need to go out, learn, and
experience other cultures so that we may be equipped to make disciples.
