Forget IQ. Cultural intelligence is the new standard for “smartness.”
What the heck is it? What does science have to say about it?
And why should we care as musicians?
Table of Contents
What Is Cultural Intelligence (CQ)?
Cultural intelligence (CQ) is a theory from researchers at London Business School.
They define it like this: “the capability to function effectively in a variety of cultural contexts.”
Basically, CQ helps you be successful and productive no matter where you’re working or with whom you’re working.
It means you’re adaptable, flexible.
No matter what’s thrown at you, you handle it with intention and get your job done.
Why do you need to have a high CQ as a musician?
Why Does CQ Matter for Musicians?
I’ll let social scientist David Livermore explain why:
“The number one predictor of your success in today’s borderless world is not your IQ, not your resume…and not even your expertise,” he writes in his book The Cultural Intelligence Difference.
“It’s your CQ.”
And the music industry has become borderless.
You can collaborate remotely with anyone.
Genres have been so mixed, what even are they anymore?
And you need to be more than just one thing. You have to be the songwriter, producer, and marketer, not just one of those.
And, according to this theory, anyone who interacts with many different people needs a high CQ.
In other words, we all need to develop our CQ as musicians.
But how?
How To Develop Your CQ with the Belief Mindset
A Belief Mindset.
That’s what your success in music comes down to. Belief.
Educational psychologist Carol Dweck has shown that people’s beliefs in themselves often become “self-fulfilling prophecies.”
And I’m not talking about “manifesting” stuff.
Studies back me up here.
Some people view their abilities as fixed, never evolving.
Others see their abilities as growable and fluid. They have a growth (or belief) mindset.
Who do you think will continually get better?
The grower. The believer.
So even if you don’t have as much natural talent as your musical peers yet you have a belief mindset…
You’ll be more likely than your peers to reach your success.
If you tell yourself you’ll reach your goals, you’re 140% more likely to reach them.
It comes down to this:
Think bigger. Imagine yourself being a more successful musician than you assume.
And be certain that you’ll get there. Be confident good things can happen for you.
Tell yourself you’ll get better. Tell yourself you’ll reach your success.
This is the Belief Mindset.
This will improve your CQ.
And you’ll be more likely to get where you want to go.
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