CQ DRIVE  
 
 
 
 
 
Here are ways to explain LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH scores relative to the world-wide
norms for CQ Drive:

Low:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you draw limited satisfaction from intercultural experiences.
You probably don’t see much benefit to yourself personally from being effective in multicultural
situations. It appears you lack confidence in your ability to succeed in culturally diverse settings.

Medium:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have an average level of interest and confidence in your
multicultural capabilities. You see some benefit from multicultural experiences though you may
not be entirely convinced. Your level of confidence about your intercultural capabilities may limit
your effectiveness but you’re well on your way!

High:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you are motivated to learn about different cultural settings.
Your confidence in your ability to adapt to different cultures positively influences the way you
work and relate in culturally diverse settings You see many benefits to traveling and interacting
with people from different cultures. Your strength in CQ Drive can be a powerful motivator to
excel in multicultural situations.

If CQ Drive was a participant’s weakest CQ capability, a few developmental strategies

Improving Your CQ-Drive

1. Connect an existing interest with a multicultural component (e.g. sports fanatics can explore
sports in a different culture, the same thing for those who like the arts, etc.).

2. Make a list of benefits you can gain by improving your CQ (e.g. job opportunities, meeting new
people, becoming more innovative, etc.)

3. Think of a time when you were successful at interacting with someone from a different cultural
background. What can you learn from that experience?

Helping participants make sense of the CQ Multi-Rater Feedback Report

Low:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have limited understanding about culture and how it
shapes the way people think and behave. It appears there’s a gap in your grasp of cultural values
and their relevance to life. As a result, you may easily miss important cultural differences and you
may discount the impact of culture upon how you work and relate.

Medium:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have a basic understanding of how culture shapes
thinking and behavior. You know some important ways that cultures differ but may still be
disoriented in many multicultural contexts due to inadequate cultural understanding. By building
upon your current understanding, you’ll have a huge edge for succeeding in multicultural
situations.

High:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have a rich, well-organized understanding of culture and
how it affects the way people think and behave. You have a strong grasp of how cultures are
alike and different. You know how culture shapes thinking and behavior, including your own.
Your depth of cultural understanding will significantly enhance your overall effectiveness in
multicultural situations.

If CQ Knowledge was a participant’s weakest CQ capability, a few developmental

Improving Your CQ-Knowledge

1. Read a novel or memoir that takes place in a different culture.

2. Find a news source from another country that reports on an event you can read about in a
local news source. Compare the differences.

3. Study a foreign language. Even a few phrases can be part of improving your CQ knowledge.

Overview of the possible feedback statements and strategies from CQ Multi-Rater Feedback Report
CQ STRATEGY
Here are ways to explain LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH scores relative to the world-wide
norms for CQ Strategy.

Low:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you appear largely unaware of what occurs in intercultural
encounters and you see little need to plan for new intercultural situations. It’s likely that you’re
also unaware of how you’re being perceived by people from different cultural backgrounds. You
may see little need to check your assumptions when you’re working and interacting with people
from different cultural backgrounds.

Medium:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have a moderate level of awareness about what’s
occurring in multicultural encounters. You see some value in planning for new intercultural
situations but may still think that acting in the moment is the best game plan. You may be aware
of some cultural assumptions as you interact but can still use improvement in suspending
judgment as you work and relate.

High:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you develop ways to use your cultural understanding to
create plans for new intercultural situations. As a result, you are better able to monitor, analyze,
and strategize about different cultural settings. You are conscious of what you need to know
about an unfamiliar culture. Given your strengths in awareness, planning, and checking, you’ll
have insights many others miss.

If CQ Strategy was a participant’s weakest CQ capability, a few developmental

1. When you’re in a public place, observe someone who comes from a different cultural
background and observe what they do.

2. Carry a journal with you and jot down your explanations about how you think culture is
impacting what’s going on.

3. Pick something that you do all the time without even thinking about it (write an e-mail, etc.).
Pick a culture different from yours and think about what you might need to change about this
behavior for that culture. Find someone who can help you evaluate if you made the right plan.

Overview of the possible feedback statements and strategies from CQ Multi-Rater Feedback Report
CQ ACTION
Here are ways to explain LOW, MEDIUM, or HIGH scores relative to the world-wide
norms for CQ Action.

Low:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you appear to place little effort on changing your behavior
for various cultural encounters. You keep your communication style and language consistent
regardless of the cultural situation, which will undermine your overall effectiveness.

Medium:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you have some ability to adapt your verbal and nonverbal
behavior for various cultural situations but it doesn’t come automatically to you yet. You
demonstrate an average level of flexibility and responsiveness to cultural cues. By expanding
your repertoire of cultural behaviors, you’ll be much more effective in multicultural situations.

High:
Based upon how you rated yourself, you can draw upon the other three capabilities of CQ to
translate your motivation, understanding, and planning into action. You possess a broad range of
verbal and nonverbal behaviors, which you can use depending upon the context. You know
when to adapt and when not to adapt. Your strength in this area helps you succeed in
multicultural situations.

If CQ Action was a participant’s weakest CQ capability, a few developmental

Improving Your CQ-Action

1. Learn a behavior that’s inappropriate in another culture and avoid doing it. For the next week,
try avoiding that behavior all together (e.g. avoid handing someone anything with your left hand
for a week).

2. Watch others carefully in multicultural encounters and mimic their behavior.

3. Travel to a different culture. Explore the local hang-outs and adapt to what and when they eat
while you’re there.

***Also see The Cultural Intelligence Difference for dozens of strategies for improving CQ in
each of the 4 capabilities and related sub-dimensions.

Overview of the possible feedback statements and strategies from CQ Multi-Rater Feedback Report