International Management Competencies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

International Management Competencies - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that cultural intelligence has become inevitable for global managers and employees that have to constantly interact with people from other countries and cultures. Cultural intelligence comprises of certain key competencies that allow effective interaction with people from other cultural backgrounds, such as knowledge about attitudes, behaviors, beliefs, and values of different cultures; the ability to adapt and accept these differences and lead everyone effectively. A low score of cultural intelligence (CQ) based on self-assessment indicates the need for the development of cultural intelligence and cross-cultural leadership competencies in order to be an effective global manager. A leader’s role involves various functions such as leading, controlling, communicating, decision-making, negotiating, motivating etc. All of these functions require interaction with others. Therefore, it becomes necessary for leaders/managers to understand t he impact of culture on people’s behavior, attitudes, expectations etc in order to be effective in cross-cultural situations. Efforts to link theoretical learning with experiences while working as a team leader in the past will be made in addition to observations from other leaders/contexts, wherever relevant. Self-assessment of cultural intelligence had arrived at a score of 5, this meant low cultural intelligence. Understanding different cultures and possessing the ability to adapt to other cultures is important to thrive and perform in the globalized world. Low score of cultural intelligence corresponds with certain past experiences at work and outside work during certain interactions with people from different cultures. These interactions more often resulted in confusion, misunderstanding and also conflict. Learning related to various cultural dimensions, intercultural communication, and cultural attributes have been fruitful in assessing certain situations and experience s that had left undesirable memories and feelings in the form of confusion, low self-esteem, and underachievement. A self-analysis of cultural intelligence and self-reflection thereupon has helped in understanding these situations and experiences better. The self-analysis indicated a high motivational drive to learn about other cultures; however, low scores on the knowledge, understandings and behavioral aspects contributed to the low cultural intelligence score. Cross-cultural competencies for leadership include the abilities and attitudes to learn and accept other cultures’ values and belief systems; interpersonal skills; and the required technical expertise, which need to be acquired in order to become an effective leader in cross-cultural settings.