Cultural Intelligence


When we add multiple cultures to the new tribes of today, we will need to put in place a paradigm of understanding or different understandings of stakeholders' cultural boundaries. Rather than being exclusive of the cultures or, as is often happening these days, just tollerating cultures, the modern tribe needs to encompass all-inclusive acceptance of all ways of looking at life and the diversity of backgrounds that lie within a group.
The cultures have been built over time to estabilsh collective identities through material symbols and by stimulating the senses. Each culture has a specific natural rhythm of life and has built its identity of this rhythm through music, the arts, the way they dress and appear, their rituals, their beliefs and making their traditions out of these ways of showing up. In some indirect way, making a tradition is a way of aknowledging all others traditions. It is a way of encompassing all other ways of living. Therefore, we could say that the ancient warrior had an acute intelligence of all cultures simply by strengthening their identity to their own culture. In Japan and, indeed, in many Asian cultures today, the identity of the culture is an inherent part of life. The Japanese make their identity so strong that they even have an accepted identity for those who are not Japanese ("Gaijin"). One could mistake such a categorization as a form of passive racism. However, the Japanese are very accepting of other cultures to enter their communities and there is a respect for all cultures although I imagine that integration in Japan is limited in order for them to maintain their cultural identity. Often the Japanese are very strict about their own people following their cultural 'rules' whereas "gaijin" are often excused for not doing so even to the extent where a gaijin trying to be Japanese is looked upon with a certain entertainment from some Japanese people.


What can we learn from the ancient warrior's cultural practices and traditional cultures that still exist today? Fundamentally, it encompasses building a tradition and keeping the discipline to uphold the tradition over time. In our tribes/teams/communinities we need to build better bests practices and adhere to them. We need to aknowledge the cultural differences in the collective and not just passively agressively tollerate them. We need to include them and aknowledge their existence. Try having a different cultural theme each month from each team member, for example. Enjoy a social event which brings all the cultures together and allow each other to taste the food, listen to the music and watch dances of the different cultures. If you don't follow a traditional culture you are in a luxury position to browse cultures, immerse yourself in them and experience the different colours that the world has to offer. If you do follow a traditional culture you are also in a luxury position of upholding a long time tradition that has been carried over centuries and the stage is yours to express it and share it with others. In essence when a culture is respected and honoured this way, the people of the culture will be more willing to embrace your culture and your way of life too. In this way, the world will be a better place.

Cultural intelligence is one of the modern warrior principles we address when playing the samurai game. The samurai game is an amazing simulation workshop which requires you to roleplay a samurai soldier in battle. It is safe, fun and an effective learning tool for self knowledge. 
  • ANNOUNCING THE NEXT SAMURAI GAME IN ROTTERDAM 24th & 25th of March!
  • When do we have the chance to play like children, to truly live out our imagination, and be creative in roleplay? It happens very seldom these days in modern society.
  • The Samurai Game gives you the opportunity, space and time to go back to this playful dynamic and even to rediscover your true self again.
  • Samurai Game in Rotterdam next weekend is that opportunity. Seize it!
  • Wonderful clip of kids playing the well known papers, scissors rock: https://m.facebook.com/groups/271865856556214?view=permalink&id=722252291517566
https://www.facebook.com/events/2037935853147894/

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