Validated CQ
Assessment,
Training &
Consultancy
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is a research-based way to assess and improve effectiveness in culturally diverse situations.
Cultural Intelligence (CQ) is rooted in academic research across 100+ countries, and used by leading companies, institutes of higher learning, and governments worldwide.
Morninglab is your partner in developing Cultural Intelligence.
Based in Singapore, working across ASEAN and Greater China.
Trusted By
Why CQ Matters
When CQ is high, diverse teams outperform homogeneous teams.
Homogenous teams outperform diverse teams when CQ is low.
In culturally diverse situations, CQ predicts:
Personal adjustment & adaptability
Judgement & decision-making
Negotiation effectiveness
Trust, idea-sharing, & innovation
Leadership effectiveness
Profitability & cost-savings
Relevance
CQ isn’t just about working across borders, it’s about working across perspectives
Whether you’re:
Leading a multi-generational team with different work styles
Collaborating with colleagues from different professional backgrounds
Communicating with clients who have different expectations
Understanding and adapting to these differences makes every interaction more effective.
Case Studies
Banking.
Career Readiness.
Pharmaceutical.
Cultural Intelligence
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Cultural Intelligence and cultural competence?
Cultural Intelligence (CQ®) is the capability to function and relate effectively in culturally diverse situations, both domestic and international. Unlike many measures of cultural competence, CQ rests on a strong theoretical foundation: Sternberg and Detterman’s multiple loci theory of intelligence. It focuses on learned skills, which, unlike values and personality, can be developed through education, training, and experience.
Cultural competence is an umbrella term with more than 300 models and dozens of inventories. Most lack a coherent theoretical base and mix together attitudes, personality traits, values, experiences, and skills.
Is CQ based on Howard Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences?
No. While Gardner’s work offers valuable insights into how individuals learn, CQ is based on Sternberg and Detterman’s multiple loci theory of intelligence, which emphasizes the motivational, cognitive, and behavioral capabilities needed to succeed today.
What is the difference between EQ and CQ?
Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to detect and regulate your own emotions and respond appropriately to others’. It’s critical for working with people, but it’s culturally conditioned: the meaning of verbal and nonverbal behaviour varies across cultures.
CQ picks up where EQ leaves off. It provides the social sensibilities and practical skills to work effectively with people of any cultural background, not just your own. All four CQ capabilities are needed for the highest levels of effectiveness; high scores on one can’t offset low scores on another. They operate as a system where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
I have not lived overseas, and I work domestically, so what is the relevance of CQ for me?
Very few people work in culturally homogeneous settings. Cultural diversity exists in most organizations and many supplier and customer relationships, so CQ is relevant to almost everyone. It applies to differences in national culture, ethnicity, gender, generations, organizational culture, professional culture, and geographic region.
Is CQ relevant to global diversity and domestic diversity?
Both. CQ research and practice span cross-border contexts (expatriate preparation, study abroad, global teams) and domestic contexts (multicultural teams, DEIB programmes, unconscious bias training). It also offers insight into generational, organizational, and functional cultures. Many organizations use CQ as a single model for both international and domestic interactions.
How reliable and valid are the results of the CQ assessment?
More than 1,000 peer-reviewed articles, with studies from over 150 countries published in 600+ scholarly journals, show the CQ assessment reliably predicts effectiveness in culturally diverse settings.
How was the CQ assessment validated?
The Cultural Intelligence Scale (CQS) has been validated across diverse samples: executives, expatriates, independent professionals, multicultural teams, and students. Studies show CQ predicts cultural effectiveness outcomes including well-being, adjustment, psychological safety, decision-making, negotiation effectiveness, trust, idea sharing, low conflict, global potential, and leader and team performance.
Reach us
We want to partner with you to create innovative, research-based solutions for assessing and improving intercultural, intergenerational effectiveness in your organisation.
