Today, we share three principles to sustain cultural intelligence, ensuring your leadership thrives in Limbe or global workplaces as May closes. In Cameroon’s vibrant heart—from the communal feasts of Bafoussam to the innovative hubs of Douala—cultural wisdom endures when nurtured. At Lead from the Heart, we’re wrapping up May’s theme, Wisdom – Leading with Cultural Intelligence, with Kwame Nkrumah’s insight: “Culture is not an ornament; it is the foundation of all human values.”
Principle 1: Cultivate Continuous Learning.
In Cameroon, where 250+ ethnic groups coexist, CQ grows through curiosity—like learning a Bamoun dance to connect with colleagues. Globally, continuous learning aligns with lifelong development models like Peter Senge’s. Neglecting it risks stagnation. Apply this: dedicate 10 minutes weekly to explore a cultural topic, like Ewondo greetings. Our Strategic Offsite retreat (starting at 500,000 CFA) fosters learning through CQ workshops, keeping your skills sharp.
Principle 2: Foster Inclusive Habits.
Cameroon’s palaver traditions, seen in Yaoundé’s consensus-building, show that inclusion sustains CQ. Globally, inclusive habits prevent silos, as Deloitte’s research confirms. Missteps, like favouring one group’s norms, erode trust. Practice this: make one habit routine, like starting meetings with a cultural check-in (e.g., “Share a value from your week”). Leaders like Indra Nooyi sustained CQ by embedding diversity in PepsiCo’s culture, a model for Cameroonian executives. Try it: test a habit and note its impact on morale.
Principle 3: Reflect and Adapt.
In Cameroon, reflection, like elders’ storytelling in Maroua, deepens wisdom. Globally, reflective practice, as in Schön’s model, refines CQ Action. Without it, leaders miss cultural cues. Test this: after a team interaction, journal, “What cultural dynamic worked? What could I tweak?” For example, adapt a direct feedback style to include Cameroonian warmth. Our Team Refresher retreat (250,000 CFA) uses reflection exercises to sustain CQ, guiding leaders to evolve.
Ignoring these principles dims CQ: a Buea team might disengage if learning stalls, or global partners may feel excluded. To apply them, focus on one this week. For continuous learning, read a CQ article and discuss it with a colleague. Our Leadership Breakfast will explore sustaining CQ—join us to strategise. Track progress: Did your habit strengthen ties? In programs like our January 2026 Vision Quest, we guide leaders to make CQ a lasting strength.
Start small: choose one principle and test it. If fostering habits, try a pidgin icebreaker to open dialogue. In Cameroon’s diverse markets and global workplaces, sustained CQ builds enduring leadership, carrying May’s lessons forward.
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©Silas Achu
