An organisation’s ability to embed Cultural Intelligence (CQ®) and Inclusive Leadership will positively impact the organisational culture for their people and communities they serve and will encourage transformational change and equity.
Our researched, evidence-based approach creates powerful partnerships with our clients that supports and sustains Culturally Intelligent (CQ®) and Inclusive organisations for the long-term.
Sustainability
Sustainability involves supporting organisation to map out a realistic journey so they can sustain their equity effort.
We want journeys that are going to last. We don’t want people getting tired along the way. We want people to understand what the journey looks like and what it’s going to mean for them as an organisation – for leaders and for the people they work with.
Ownership
Ownership ensures that everyone in the organisation is part of the journey. Not just focusing on single identity marginalised groups – everyone plays a part. At Above Difference, we say it has to be about everyone, or it is about no one.
What we don’t want is some people sitting at the back of the car going, are we there yet? Or indeed, where are we going?
Scalability
Scalability addresses how crucially important it is that we train facilitators in organisations to build capacity and embed a Cultural Intelligent (CQ®) and Inclusive culture.
Our Facilitator Development Programme trains, mentors and supports colleagues within their organisation to become Senior Cultural Intelligence and Inclusive Leadership Facilitators. This enables scale-up and also sustains the work we begin, ensuring each organisation is able to retain total ownership of its own development agenda.
Relevance
Relevance is achieved through a deep understanding of the framework, the journey and its clear, evidence-based benefits. Providing answers to pertinent questions, viewed from the perspective of each leader and organisation.
Why we suggest organisations no longer take the quick fix designation approach. How the Cultural Intelligence (CQ®) and Inclusive journey ties into that particular organisation’s profit margins, effectiveness, and why it makes a difference to their customers, citizens, and communities they serve.
“We believe that the CQ masterclasses delivered by Jennifer Izekor, Founder of Above Difference, to our middle and senior leaders have significantly enhanced their capability to relate effectively and perform in the culturally diverse context of our organisation and wider society. This has been particularly important in support of our drive to improve the confidence in policing of all our communities and increase our ability to attract the very best talent from the full range of diversity.”
Chief Constable Andy Marsh
Avon and Somerset Constabulary, 2020
Why we need to constantly question our assumptions about what Inclusion looks and feels like from different cultural perspectives.
Unconscious Bias (UB) Awareness workshops have been recommended as a panacea to the Diversity and Inclusion concerns. However, at Above Difference we’d like to offer you an alternative.
Is it time to take a different and more radical approach to diversifying the colour of leadership in the public sector? What can CQ offer that hasn’t been tried before?
Leading the way to intentional inclusion begins with embracing ambiguity and exploring the depth of difference.
Emerging research demonstrates that having a diverse organisation or team is not enough.
The unique combination of Cultural Intelligence (CQ) and Inclusive Leadership offers a new, innovative approach to the inclusion agenda that is rooted in academic research and based on a clear framework.
At Above Difference, we equip leaders and organisations to move from ‘managing diversity’ to ‘leading for inclusion’. By developing CQ and Inclusive Leadership styles in individuals and organisations, we develop individual’s ability to decisively and intentionally create inclusive workplace cultures where diversity is recognised as one of the organisations greatest assets and all cultures are valued and respected.
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